国际足联主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺近日宣布放弃将世界杯等赛事出售给私人投资者的争议计划，但这一决定未能化解来自全球足球组织的抵制威胁[1][2]。欧足联、亚足联和北美足联等主要足球组织对该提案提出强烈反对，欧足联55个成员协会投票表示如果计划继续将抵制世界杯；亚足联拥有46票反对，北美足联(Concacaf)拥有35票反对[2]。亚足联评价称，"这个问题远超单一提案，暴露了国际足联咨询和决策流程的根本缺陷"[1]。
因凡蒂诺的决定触发了国际足联内部的信任危机。因凡蒂诺曾提议向支持该计划的211个国际足联成员协会每个提供4000万英镑[2]。该计划因缺乏足够支持而最终被撤销，但也引发了高管层的不满——因凡蒂诺的特别顾问卡洛斯·科德罗已辞职，声称该提案"对足球是一笔坏交易"且会"抵押足球的未来"[2]；国际足联首席运营官凯文·拉穆尔称管理层被"欺骗"了该项目[2]。
虽然因凡蒂诺自2016年以来两次无对手当选，现年56岁[1]，但多个足球权力人物对他的领导力提出质疑。如果他最终下台，潜在继任者包括北美足联主席蒙塔格利亚尼和亚足联主席谢赫·萨尔曼等[1]。下一任国际足联主席将在明年3月摩洛哥大会上确认，候选人报名截止日期为11月18日[1]。
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has scrapped a controversial proposal to sell World Cup and other major tournaments to private investors, following intense opposition from continental football bodies worldwide [2]. The 56-year-old leader announced the decision after determining he lacked sufficient support among FIFA's membership to proceed with the plan [2].
The proposal would have provided 40 million pounds to each of the 211 FIFA member associations that supported it [2]. However, the scheme faced unified rejection across football's major regions: all 55 European Football Association members voted to boycott the World Cup if the plan advanced, while the Asian Football Confederation opposed it with 46 votes and Concacaf opposed it with 35 votes [2]. The plan required approval from at least 106 of FIFA's 211 members to pass [2].
The backlash extended beyond member associations to FIFA's own leadership. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser, resigned and characterized the proposal as "a bad deal for football" that would "mortgage football's future" [2]. FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour stated that management had been "deceived" about the project [2]. The Asian Football Confederation issued a sharp statement, arguing that "this issue goes far beyond a single proposal and exposes fundamental flaws in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes" [1].
Despite withdrawing this initiative, Infantino faces mounting pressure on his leadership. Critics within football's power structure have raised governance concerns, though he has won two uncontested elections since taking office in 2016 [1]. He intends to seek a fourth term at FIFA's congress scheduled for March 2025 in Morocco, with candidate nominations closing on November 18 [1]. Should he step aside, potential successors include Concacaf President Montanglieri and AFC President Sheikh Salman [1].