Despite billionaire Motsepe’s backing, FIFA president calls crisis meeting in Morocco as UEFA opposes another Infantino term.

The crisis follows the collapse of his proposal to sell 20% of the World Cup’s commercial rights for $4.2 billion.

While his re-election next March once seemed certain, the fallout from this abandoned deal has put his future in serious doubt.

The high-stakes meeting is taking place at FIFA’s office in Salé, Morocco, where Infantino is working to ensure he remains in power for the seven months leading up to the next election.

Critics were outraged by several parts of his commercial plan, including the involvement of a company with links to Donald Trump’s family and the extremely short time given to review the proposal.

Even though Infantino eventually dropped the plan under pressure, many football leaders remain angry.

Under FIFA rules, if 43 member countries make a formal request, an emergency meeting could be called to challenge his presidency before the scheduled election.

Opposition is strongest in Europe, where the governing body UEFA has officially withdrawn its support for Infantino.

UEFA leaders accused the president of “selling the soul of the game” and stated they no longer have confidence in his ability to lead.

This frustration is shared by the European Leagues, which represent over 1,300 clubs; they are now demanding reforms to stop FIFA from making major, “unilateral” decisions without proper input. Even within Infantino’s own administration, top officials are distancing themselves.

According to Reuters, FIFA’s Secretary General described the situation as “reproachable,” and the Chief Operating Officer claimed staff felt “deceived” by a project that seemed to be the work of just one person.

Despite the backlash from Europe, Infantino still has strong allies in Africa. Billionaire Patrice Motsepe has been a vocal supporter, calling Infantino a “loyal friend” to the continent and stating he would never “stab him in the back”.

Other influential leaders from countries like Morocco, Egypt, and Mauritania have also issued statements of support.

According to Reuters, this loyalty is largely tied to “FIFA Forward” funding, which provides $8 million every four years to each member association.

As long as no clear rival candidate emerges, Infantino is relying on this support from Africa and other regions to keep his presidency until 2031.