FIFA Leadership Crisis Deepens: Klaveness Calls for Resignation, Confederations Accuse Infantino of 'Deception'

Fallout from the abandoned World Cup stake-sale plan escalated into a full leadership crisis for FIFA president Gianni Infantino. A crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco on August 5 produced an apology for 'mistakes' and a reaffirmation of internal backing, but critics were unmoved: Portuguese great Luís Figo said Infantino 'must go,' and on August 7 Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness said 'there is no trust in Infantino now' and called for his resignation. FIFA accused unnamed parties of a 'concerted and ongoing effort' to undermine the president. The crisis peaked August 10 when UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC — representing three of FIFA's six confederations — issued a joint open letter accusing Infantino of a 'fundamental breach of trust' and 'deception,' calling the stake-sale episode a 'profound failure of judgment' and demanding an independent review. UEFA maintained its threatened boycott of FIFA competitions. President Trump publicly defended Infantino, whose bid for a fourth term faces a vote at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco on March 18, 2027.