UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North and Central America, have published a joint open letter accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of putting himself above the game as a whole.
The clash between UEFA and Infantino, described as historically unprecedented, is continuing. It was prompted by Infantino's plan to sell rights, including rights to the World Cup, to private investors.
What the letter says
The three confederations said football is the greatest shared passion in the world and does not belong to any single person or organization. They said it belongs to the players, the fans, the clubs, the member federations, and to every body entrusted with safeguarding its future.
The letter said Infantino had put himself above the collective. The confederations said an investigation had been requested into what has taken place, though the letter did not give further detail on that process.
UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF said the power of football has always lain in its unity. They said they now demand that this unity be respected, and called for leadership that serves football rather than seeking to control it.
UEFA posted the open letter on its account on X on August 10, 2026, addressing it to what it called "the football family."
