Pressure is mounting on FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Prime Minister Andy Burnham publicly called for his resignation, arguing that the football chief has lost the confidence needed to lead the global governing body.
Burnham’s comments come amid widespread criticism of Infantino’s proposal to attract £3.1 billion in private investment into the FIFA World Cup.
Speaking during a visit to Sheffield, Burnham described the proposal as unacceptable and questioned how such an idea could have advanced within FIFA’s leadership.
The Everton supporter said the controversy demonstrated that Infantino was no longer the right person to oversee world football.
Investment Proposal Sparks International Backlash
The controversy centers on Infantino’s plan to introduce significant private investment into the World Cup, a move that has generated fierce resistance across football’s governing bodies.
Critics argue that increased private financial involvement threatens the integrity of the sport and could place commercial interests ahead of supporters and national associations.
Opposition has spread rapidly among FIFA’s continental confederations, turning what began as criticism into a broader challenge to the president’s authority.
UEFA Leads Boycott as Other Confederations Join Opposition
UEFA has taken the strongest stance by announcing a boycott of FIFA competitions in response to the proposed investment model.
The confederation has received backing from both Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which have also rejected the initiative.
The AFC has gone further by calling for an urgent review of FIFA’s leadership, signaling that concerns now extend beyond the investment proposal itself and into wider questions about governance within the organization.
FIFA President Faces Shrinking Support
Reports suggest confidence in Infantino has weakened considerably among member associations, particularly within Concacaf.
According to the latest figures, 135 of FIFA’s 211 member nations have expressed opposition to the proposal, leaving the president well short of the 106 votes required to secure approval for changes to FIFA statutes.
The growing resistance has fueled speculation that Infantino’s position could become increasingly difficult if he continues pursuing the controversial reforms.
Emergency Congress Could Challenge FIFA Leadership
The mounting unrest has also raised the possibility of an emergency FIFA Congress being convened to consider a vote of no confidence against the president.
Under FIFA regulations, support from just 20 percent of member associations is sufficient to trigger such a process.
With UEFA’s membership alone—or Concacaf’s 46 FIFA-affiliated nations—capable of meeting that threshold, discussions over potential next steps have intensified.
Sources indicate that Norway has floated the idea of an emergency congress, while UEFA members continue to assess their options.
British Political Figures Unite Against Infantino
Burnham joins a growing list of British politicians openly criticizing FIFA’s leadership.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage recently urged Infantino to resign, arguing that football should remain under the control of supporters rather than financial investors.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also endorsed UEFA’s boycott, describing it as a principled stand.
She argued that football belongs to its fans rather than billionaire investors and said decisive action was necessary to safeguard the future of the sport.
