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Gianni Infantino is facing the biggest challenge of his near decade-long spell as FIFA president after a failed attempt to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup triggered a worldwide backlash. European governing body UEFA is now reportedly moving quickly to work out how to remove the Swiss official from power after the policy collapse.

Infantino’s failed commercial overhaul

The FIFA president has been left exposed after his proposal to set up a $20 billion commercial subsidiary, called FIFA Forward Enterprise, fell apart dramatically. The project was designed to sell a 20 percent stake in the federation’s most valuable assets to private investors, with an ESPN report naming a New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner as the likely anchor investor. However, the proposal sparked an immediate and strong revolt from some of football’s most powerful figures, leaving Infantino with no option but to back down.

In a statement confirming that the project had been dropped, Infantino admitted the scheme had become too divisive to continue. “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place. Our purpose has always been – and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” Infantino said.

UEFA at the forefront of the push for change

UEFA had been the strongest opponent of the commercial sell-off proposal and had earlier threatened a complete boycott of FIFA competitions if the plan stayed in place. Now, according to Sky News, the European governing body is “accelerating” its efforts to make sure Infantino does not get another term. The report indicates that the question is no longer whether Infantino will face a challenge, but when. UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister confirmed the change in mood, saying that “trust in the president of FIFA has been badly shaken.” In addition, according to talkSPORT, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has asked national federations to withdraw their earlier letters backing Infantino’s re-election.

The European body issued a strongly worded official statement on Saturday after the plan collapsed, making it plain that it no longer has confidence in the present leadership. The statement said: “We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.

“It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.

“That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”

Possible challengers and growing internal revolt

As the search for a possible successor begins, a number of prominent names have been linked with a presidential run. While CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani is viewed as a possible candidate, PSG president and European Club Association chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has reportedly turned down calls from UEFA to enter the race, despite his clear opposition to Infantino’s recent financial moves. People close to Al-Khelaifi insisted he has no interest in the post and plans to continue supporting institutions from the roles he already holds.

Pressure is also building inside FIFA headquarters itself. The controversial proposal led to the senior departures of adviser Carlos Cordeiro and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour. In a sharp criticism of the president’s management style, Lamour described the venture as “a project of one person.”

The route to a no-confidence vote

UEFA is now considering several options to push Infantino out before the next scheduled election in 2027. While a voluntary resignation would be the easiest outcome, the governing body is also examining the possibility of calling an emergency FIFA Congress. That would need support from 43 of FIFA’s 211 member associations in order to trigger a formal vote of no confidence.

The fight for control of world football is now moving into its most intense stage. UEFA’s statement ended with a clear warning that defeating the investment plan was only the start. “This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun.” With relations between Zurich and Nyon at their lowest point, the coming months will decide whether Infantino can withstand the most serious threat to his decade-long rule.