Uefa has expressed a significant loss of confidence in Gianni Infantino's leadership at Fifa following the fallout from a scrapped controversial investment plan. On Saturday, Infantino announced that Fifa would not proceed with the proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors, a decision welcomed by Uefa as a "victory for the whole game."

Earlier, Uefa had voted to boycott World Cups if the investment plans moved forward, reflecting widespread opposition from various governing bodies. Uefa criticized Infantino for failing to deliver on promises made during his 2016 presidential campaign, emphasizing transparency and the proper use of Fifa's funds.

In its statement, Uefa declared:

• The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.
• Infantino's past assurances about transparency and resource allocation have not been fulfilled.

Uefa condemned the proposal for being crafted in secrecy and vowed to hold accountable those responsible. Furthermore, Uefa plans to collaborate with associations and confederations to ensure similar schemes do not arise in the future, advocating for a new approach to resource distribution through the existing Fifa Forward programme.

Despite the withdrawal of the proposal, Uefa asserted that rebuilding trust in Fifa is just beginning. Infantino’s hopes of escaping scrutiny amidst the controversy have been dashed, as Uefa's statement marks one of the fiercest criticisms aimed at the head of world football.

The Asian Football Confederation also shared its discontent with Infantino's actions, indicating a broader dissatisfaction within the football community. The ramifications of this incident on Infantino’s bid for re-election in March remain to be seen.