Fifa president Gianni Infantino set off a political crisis with football federations worldwide after proposing a plan to create a company to run Fifa competitions by selling shares and commercial rights to outside investors. UEFA voted unanimously against the idea and withdrew its national teams from the tournaments involved.
According to the English newspaper The Times, had the project gone ahead, Infantino's salary would have increased sixfold. Infantino currently earns $4.8 million a year, about 25 million reais. The Times reported his salary would have risen to $30 million a year, around 152 million reais.
Following heavy criticism, Fifa decided to abandon the project.
UEFA loses confidence
UEFA said on Saturday, August 1, that it had lost confidence in Infantino after Fifa dropped its plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights. The proposal aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about 20% to private investors, and regional confederations said they were caught off guard by it.
UEFA said in a statement that Fifa's current leadership had lost the confidence not only of UEFA but of many other members of the football family.
Reelection in doubt
After the plan backfired, Infantino's reelection, once seen as certain and a formality, is now increasingly in doubt.
