UEFA, AFC, and Concacaf release statement against FIFA leadership

The heads of UEFA, the AFC, and Concacaf have released a joint statement against FIFA and its leadership as the fallout from the attempted World Cup sell-off continues.

The global football governing body’s president, Gianni Infantino, is under increased pressure over his leadership which is directedly called out by today’s statement.

“Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it,” the three associations said in an open letter addressed to ‘Football Family’.

“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”

The letter goes on to point out that FIFA has yet to admit its World Cup proposal was wrong, only that its process was incorrect.

“There is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness,” the statement continued.

“These are not the qualities football deserves in its leadership. That is why we have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve.

“Football’s strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honoured now, for leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it.”