"FIFA President's Grip Tightens, Dictatorship Unbearable... Resign Immediately" Football Scandal 'Turns the World Upside Down'

*This content was translated by AI.

Pressure for the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is facing fierce backlash over plans to sell stakes in the World Cup, has reached its peak. Opposition forces centered on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have drawn a line in the sand, warning that they will boycott if In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) does not step down.

The British media outlet 'BBC' reported on the 4th (Korea time), "According to senior officials at UEFA, opponents of In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) are prepared to refuse cooperation with FIFA if he does not resign," and added, "Some opposition factions, facing severe repercussions from the withdrawal of the stake sale proposal, have vowed to fight to the end, stating they have nowhere left to retreat as long as In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) remains in office."

According to reports, concrete discussions are underway regarding collective actions, including legal measures and a complete refusal to participate in FIFA meetings. Some even demand the replacement of the current FIFA president. UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister told 'BBC', "This situation calls for very clear action against a disastrous administration," and strongly criticized, "You cannot cover everything up with a single plan. We expect leadership change by next year."

Previously, In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) established a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) to handle commercial and operational rights for major tournaments such as the World Cup and Club World Cup, and attempted to secretly sell stakes to U.S. venture capital firms like Slice Capital before abruptly withdrawing the plan. During this process, he offered to pay 40 million dollars (approximately 57 billion won) to member associations that supported him, setting September 19 as a deadline, which triggered strong backlash across the football community.

In response, UEFA has requested FIFA to preserve all relevant materials related to FFE, including emails, messenger conversations, and received documents, and has warned of legal action and regulatory complaints against institutional investors.

In Pan-ti-no (Chairman)'s position is rapidly shrinking. After Wales already withdrew its support for In Pan-ti-no (Chairman)'s fourth term, the Football Association (FA) of England and the Scottish Football Association are expected to join them. Serbia, Sweden, and Finland have also withdrawn their support. At the continental federation level, UEFA and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) have been joined by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has declared solidarity, forming a united opposition front.

On the other hand, some countries such as Morocco, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka, along with confederations in South America, Africa, and Oceania, continue to support or remain silent regarding In Pan-ti-no (Chairman), indicating that divisions within the football community are accelerating.

Possibilities have also been raised for convening an emergency meeting to forcibly remove In Pan-ti-no (Chairman). If 19 out of the 37th members of the FIFA Council request it, an emergency meeting must be held within two weeks. Considering the number of committee members from UEFA (9), AFC (7), and CONCACAF (5), the requirement can be met.

If In Pan-ti-no (Chairman) refuses to resign, a confrontation will occur in the next presidential election scheduled for March 2027 at the Moroccan General Assembly. To secure re-election, he needs 106 votes out of 211 member nations. Accordingly, opposition factions are focusing on gathering alternatives to challenge In Pan-ti-no (Chairman), such as CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani and AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.