Also known as: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin · UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin
UEFA president who ruled out replacing FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning instead that Infantino must quit or face a March leadership challenge over the abandoned private investment plan.
FIFA blasts UEFA 'smear campaign,' fights World Cup plan disclosures By AFP September 04, 2026 09:31 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino …
UEFA's legal move 'massive escalation' in bitter Infantino feud By AFP August 28, 2026 10:21 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attend …
UEFA set to withdraw FIFA boycott threat ahead of Champions League draw By AFP August 27, 2026 08:45 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin speaks during a press conference after …
UEFA 'likely' to drop threat to boycott FIFA tournaments: source By AFP August 26, 2026 08:41 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attend …
UEFA's Ceferin tells Infantino to go, but 'not interested' in replacing him By AFP August 24, 2026 02:15 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (L) and FIFA President Gianni Infan …
Audio By VocalizeFIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, on August 23, 2026. [AFP] UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has said he is "not interested" in replacing Gianni Infantino, but has warned the u …
… Shouldn't we allow that process to continue?" Motsepe was in Salzburg at the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday to hold talks with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, whose organisation are threatening to boycott the World Cup and Club World Cup in protest at Infantino's scheme. …
… "When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned." -- A no holds-barred letter, released on Monday, signed by the presidents of three confederations, Aleksander Ceferin …
UEFA chief Ceferin: 'Underdog' leader taking fight to FIFA's Infantino By AFP August 07, 2026 07:11 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin delivers a speech during the 48th UEFA o …
FIFA has accused UEFA of a "smear campaign" and "fishing expedition" after UEFA asked US judges to force FIFA to disclose documents related to its failed plan to secure private investment in World Cup tournaments. UEFA has threatened possible legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for alleged "criminal mismanagement" over the scrapped investor plan.
FIFA has accused UEFA of a "smear campaign" and "fishing expedition" after UEFA asked US judges to force FIFA to disclose documents related to its failed plan to secure private investment in World Cup tournaments. UEFA has threatened possible legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for alleged "criminal mismanagement" over the scrapped investor plan.
UEFA announced it is considering legal action against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his now-abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, which a former International Olympic Committee marketing director described as a "massive escalation" of their feud. Infantino has faced increasing pressure to step down, and UEFA has withdrawn its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments on a provisional basis.
UEFA, which had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over plans to allow private investment in the World Cup and Club World Cup through a new commercial subsidiary, is expected to drop the boycott threat. The dispute arose after FIFA proposed creating a FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to attract private investors, which UEFA had criticized as a "shady, opaque backroom deal."
UEFA is "likely" to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments after the two conditions it sought from FIFA following president Gianni Infantino's failed attempt to secure private investment in the World Cup have been met, according to a source.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of contention to replace FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while warning that Infantino must quit or face a leadership challenge. Infantino has faced mounting pressure to step down over his now-abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, with UEFA and other continental federations withdrawing support.
UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has said he is not interested in replacing FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but warned that Infantino must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March over his abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments. UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions and several federations have withdrawn support for Infantino.
Somali referee Omar Artan, 34, became the first referee from outside Europe to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup, officiating PSG's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Salzburg's Red Bull Arena. After the match, Artan wrote "This was my World Cup..." on the official match ball, a reference to his missed World Cup opportunity after being denied entry to the US by Customs and Border Protection at Miami International Airport.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe says FIFA president Gianni Infantino's future should be decided by elections, after Ireland joined European, North American, and Asian football bodies in withdrawing support over his failed plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of UEFA after his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup was withdrawn following global backlash. Despite support from US President Donald Trump and withdrawing the controversial proposal, Infantino's position remains precarious as three confederations have criticized his style of leadership.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino withdrew his plan to raise private investment for a new commercial subsidiary to run World Cup operations after global backlash. UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC released an open letter criticizing his leadership style, despite calls for unity.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he will not challenge FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in Rabat next March, though UEFA is locked in a bitter dispute with FIFA over Infantino's scrapped private investor plan.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lost UEFA's confidence after his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup triggered global backlash and calls for his resignation, despite FIFA withdrawing the proposal. His previously unopposed path to a fourth term in March's election has been significantly weakened.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a scheme to raise $4.2 billion through private investment after global backlash. A former IOC marketing chief told AFP that Infantino's leadership has become "radioactive" and his reign "is over," with UEFA and CONCACAF among governing bodies expressing loss of confidence in him.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of UEFA after withdrawing a plan to raise up to $4.2 billion through private investment in World Cup and Club World Cup events. A former IOC marketing chief said Infantino's ten-year reign as head of world football is over and his leadership has become "radioactive" following the global backlash.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a proposed plan to allow private investment in the World Cup following widespread opposition, including from UEFA and other football stakeholders. The plan, which would have retained FIFA's majority share in a new entity while raising $4.2 billion, sparked a furious global backlash within days of being made public.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino vowed to proceed with consultation on a proposed private investment plan for the World Cup despite opposition from the Asian Football Confederation, UEFA, and CONCACAF. Senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, stating he "cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup."
UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup if FIFA proceeds with private investor proposals, stating that no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition unless the proposal is abandoned and FIFA gives binding assurances it will never open governance or competitions to private ownership.
FIFA said on Friday it would continue consulting member associations on a proposed private investment plan for World Cup operations, even as UEFA pledged to boycott the World Cup and CONCACAF's 41 member associations rejected the proposal. FIFA's plan could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a $20 billion valuation of its commercial subsidiary FFE.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has acknowledged that a 64-team World Cup could be examined after the current 48-team tournament concludes. Expanding the tournament further would have significant logistical and financial implications, potentially reducing the commercial value of qualifying competition.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the federation will examine a 64-team World Cup format after the 2026 tournament, citing the success of the current 48-team expansion and the need for the competition to be inclusive of all nations and regions.
Omar Artan, a Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised Artan as an excellent and experienced referee who has proven himself at the highest level of African football competition.
UEFA appointed Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria. Artan was previously denied entry to the United States for the World Cup, and UEFA's appointment was announced as part of a cooperation accord with the African confederation.
UEFA will use a two-tier qualifying system for the 2030 World Cup, with a top league of 36 countries divided into three groups of 12, mirroring Champions League format. The best-ranked nations from the three League 1 groups will qualify for the World Cup, with remaining places decided via play-offs, while 18 lower-ranked countries compete in League 2 with a chance to qualify.
Italy's player and coaching associations endorsed Giovanni Malago, who headed the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, as the next president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), following Gabriele Gravina's resignation in April.