The crisis surrounding FIFA president Gianni Infantino deepened on Monday after the Football Association (FA) moved to withdraw its support for his re-election, while UEFA threatened legal action over the governing body's abandoned World Cup investment plan.
The latest developments underscore a widening revolt within European football against Infantino, whose leadership has come under intense scrutiny following the collapse of FIFA's controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in a commercial entity linked to the FIFA World Cup.
According to Sky Sports News, the FA is preparing to write to Infantino to formally withdraw an earlier letter endorsing his candidacy for another term as FIFA president. The move is seen as part of a coordinated campaign by European football associations to pile pressure on the Swiss administrator to step aside.
The decision comes shortly after the Football Association of Wales (FAW) became the first national association to officially revoke its support for Infantino's re-election bid. Sweden has since followed suit, with more associations expected to announce similar decisions in the coming days.
UEFA has also escalated the standoff by warning FIFA that it is considering legal proceedings over the failed World Cup commercialisation initiative.
In a letter dated July 31 and addressed to Infantino, European football's governing body said it was "actively considering legal action, arbitration and/or regulatory complaints" over the proposal, which FIFA abandoned last weekend after fierce opposition.
UEFA also instructed senior FIFA officials to preserve all documents and records that could be relevant in any future legal proceedings.
The now-scrapped proposal sought to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial vehicle through which FIFA planned to sell minority, non-controlling stakes to private investors.
FIFA had projected raising up to $4.2 billion from the transaction, arguing that the investment would unlock more than $10 billion for football development programmes over the next four years.
However, the proposal was met with strong resistance, particularly from UEFA, which accused FIFA of pushing through major structural changes without adequate consultation with member associations.
Despite mounting criticism, Infantino has given no indication that he intends to resign. Instead, reports suggest he has been working to consolidate support among football federations in Africa, Asia and South America, where he continues to enjoy considerable backing.
Even if he survives the immediate crisis, political observers believe the FIFA president is now likely to face serious opposition at the organisation's presidential election scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.
The FA's decision is also likely to prompt questions over why it had initially endorsed Infantino's candidacy, especially after FA chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt publicly presented him with an England shirt during the recent World Cup in the United States.
Explaining its decision, the Football Association of Wales accused Infantino of presiding over a decline in governance standards within world football.
"The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football," the association said.
It added that "failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept."
The Welsh body confirmed it had formally notified FIFA that it was withdrawing support for Infantino's candidature for the 2027-2031 presidential term.
The developments represent a remarkable turnaround for the FIFA president, who only weeks ago was celebrating another successful World Cup tournament and presenting the trophy to champions Spain in New Jersey.
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol said European football leaders are now pursuing a strategy aimed at steadily eroding Infantino's political support.
According to him, more than 200 of FIFA's 211 member associations had previously submitted letters supporting Infantino's re-election, including 52 of UEFA's 55 members.
That consensus, however, has rapidly begun to unravel following the controversy surrounding the World Cup investment proposal.
Solhekol said European football has several options available if it wishes to intensify pressure on the FIFA president, including seeking an emergency meeting of the FIFA Council, convening an extraordinary FIFA Congress or backing a single challenger in next year's presidential election.
Under FIFA regulations, an extraordinary congress can be convened if at least 20 per cent of the organisation's 211 member associations request one, potentially opening the door to a vote of no confidence.
Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris said UEFA believes Infantino has failed to show sufficient accountability over the controversy.
According to Harris, European football leaders had expected an apology or at least assurances that such a proposal would never again be developed without proper consultation.
Instead, Infantino has continued to defend his leadership while rallying allies from other continental confederations, particularly in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
Attention is also beginning to shift towards who could emerge as a potential challenger should Infantino remain in the race.
Among those mentioned are Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has also been widely discussed, although there is no indication he intends to seek the FIFA presidency.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, whose name has featured in speculation, is understood to have no interest in contesting the position.
With more European football associations expected to withdraw their backing in the coming days, pressure continues to mount on Infantino in what is shaping up to be FIFA's biggest leadership crisis since Sepp Blatter's departure more than a decade ago.
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