UEFA attacks Infantino in Copenhagen as Al-Khelaifi rejects bid for FIFA presidency

Ceferin attacks FIFA leadership in Copenhagen

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin delivered a sharp rebuke of FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday at the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Copenhagen. Ceferin invoked Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Emperor's New Clothes to criticize FIFA's public justification of its shelved commercial subsidiary project. He rejected the governing body's claims that the proposed private investment represented grassroots development or institutional consultation.

Selling part of football's future does not become development because you say it's development. Putting a fait accompli in front of national associations does not mean democratisation, even if you call it democratisation. However big the check is. And secrecy does not become consultation because you call it consultation.

In his ten-minute address, Ceferin argued that football has no need for emperors and criticized officials who bend rules or create awards for politicians. The remarks targeted Infantino's governance style and his close relations with US President Donald Trump.

Al-Khelaifi rules out presidential run

Paris Saint-Germain president and EFC chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi used the Copenhagen meeting to quash speculation that he might challenge Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential race. Al-Khelaifi, who serves as a minister in Qatar's government and sits on the UEFA executive committee, stated after the meeting that he had no desire to seek the presidency.

I have zero interest in FIFA, zero agenda (or) ambition to be there. I don't think I'm the right guy for this position and I don't want to go actually, I'm enjoying what I'm doing. I think FIFA's not for me. Thank you.

Al-Khelaifi's withdrawal leaves European soccer leaders without an announced candidate ahead of the November 18 nomination deadline for the March 18 election in Morocco. Ceferin has also ruled himself out of running against Infantino, who intends to seek a fourth four-year term through 2031.

Proposal for a global club body

During his address to the assembly, Al-Khelaifi unveiled plans to establish World Football Clubs, a new body designed to give club teams global institutional representation. The initiative would create a seventh constituent group in world football alongside the six existing continental confederations. The organization formerly known as the European Club Association has expanded from 247 member clubs in 2021 to more than 900 across 55 countries, with an objective of reaching 1,000 members. Al-Khelaifi pointed out that 857 players from European clubs participated in this year's 48-team World Cup, accounting for nearly 70% of the tournament's player pool. He also confirmed that Barcelona has rejoined the EFC and stated that Real Madrid is in the process of returning following a February agreement addressing Super League disputes.

Legal battle over the FFE investment plan

The confrontation in Copenhagen followed legal action filed in the United States over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise venture. In a 21-page court filing submitted on Monday in the Southern District of Florida, FIFA urged a federal judge to dismiss UEFA's application for evidence discovery against two Florida-based FIFA entities. UEFA sought testimony and internal documents to support a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland accusing Infantino of financial mismanagement. Under the proposal disclosed on July 28, private investors led by Josh Kushner would have acquired a 20% stake in FIFA commercial rights for $4.2 billion, valuing the business at $20 billion in equity. FIFA accused UEFA of conducting a bad-faith misinformation campaign to disrupt the presidential election, while UEFA argued the valuation bypassed normal governance and sold rights below market value.