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FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing increasing pressure after the organization's chief operating officer publicly criticized his proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors.

In a statement released made available to huhuonline.com on Friday, Kevin Lamour described the proposal as "the project of one person" and urged football leaders to "ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions." He also claimed FIFA's administration had been "deceived" about the initiative.

Although Lamour did not mention Infantino by name, his remarks came amid growing opposition to the plans. On the same day, a third football confederation voiced its concerns, a senior adviser to Infantino resigned, and Andy Burnham said the Swiss official was "the wrong man" to lead FIFA.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not discussed the proposal with Infantino, despite reports that the two have developed a close relationship since Trump's second term began in 2025.

Lamour said FIFA's employees are committed to serving football and argued that the organization's leadership should unite and inspire rather than divide.

"Our mission—the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary FIFA employees—is to serve football," he said. "A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite."

Acknowledging his responsibility to both FIFA and its values, Lamour said he was prepared to accept any consequences for speaking out.

"If that means I lose my job, then so be it," he said. "I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight."

Mauricio Pochettino has signed a contract extension to remain head coach of the United States men's national team until 2030.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager, who took charge in September 2024, guided the United States to the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament co-hosts were eventually knocked out by Belgium.

As part of the new agreement, Pochettino's responsibilities will extend beyond the senior national team. Alongside his coaching staff, he will play a wider role in supporting US Soccer by contributing to youth development, coaching education, collaboration with professional leagues, and strengthening the pathway from youth teams to the senior national side.

Speaking about the extension, Pochettino said the past two years had shown the enormous potential to further develop the men's national team programme. He added that he and his staff were eager to use their experience to help improve player and coach development across the federation while creating stronger pathways for future talent.

Pochettino also said his ambition is to make a lasting contribution to soccer in the United States, hoping his influence will be felt not only through results on the pitch but also through the long-term growth of the sport throughout the country.

Opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino is intensifying, with senior UEFA sources claiming that some member associations are considering "non-cooperation" with FIFA unless he steps down.

According to those sources, several officials involved in the growing backlash believe there is "no going back" while Infantino remains in office. The dispute stems from his abandoned proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors, a plan that has sparked widespread criticism.

Although the exact form of any coordinated action has not been confirmed, one senior football official suggested that a boycott of FIFA meetings is a likely option.

The latest developments follow UEFA's threat to pursue legal action over the investment proposal. Wales has already withdrawn its support for Infantino's expected bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, with England's Football Association reportedly preparing to do the same.

Infantino is expected to seek re-election in March and would require at least 106 votes from FIFA's 211 member associations to secure another term.

Huhuonline.com understand that the Scottish Football Association remains aligned with UEFA's position, reflecting the confederation's continued lack of confidence in Infantino's leadership.

Criticism of the FIFA president has also come from football governing bodies in Europe, North and Central America, and the Caribbean, with both UEFA and Concacaf issuing statements opposing the investment proposals.

As pressure mounts, Serbia, Sweden and Finland have also reportedly withdrawn their support for Infantino. Meanwhile, several nations—including Morocco, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait and Sri Lanka—have publicly backed his continued leadership of FIFA.

FIFA's 211 member associations are divided among six continental confederations: UEFA (55), CAF (54), AFC (46), Concacaf (35), OFC (11) and CONMEBOL (10).

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has expressed solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf over the issue, while CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC have not publicly criticised Infantino's proposals.

Under FIFA's statutes, the FIFA Council could seek to force Infantino's resignation by calling an emergency meeting. Such a meeting would require the support of at least 19 of the Council's 37 members and, if requested, must be held within two weeks.

The FIFA Council comprises representatives from UEFA (9), AFC (7), Concacaf (5), CAF (6), CONMEBOL (5), OFC (3), as well as FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is seeking support from the Trump administration as he faces increasing pressure over his leadership and a controversial proposal to restructure FIFA’s commercial operations, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Infantino is expected to hold a private discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the conversation publicly framed around soccer’s role as a tool of American soft power. However, huhuoonline.com gathered that the wider objective is to strengthen political backing as Infantino works to maintain his position as head of world football.

“He wanted to discuss how soccer can serve as a form of soft power for America,” one source said. “But the reality is that this is about protecting his position.”

The FIFA president has reportedly become increasingly isolated following criticism of a plan to establish a new commercial entity that would oversee major revenue streams, including broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing, and ticketing rights.

The proposed venture, reportedly known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was expected to attract private investment, including a potential deal with Thrive Eternal, the investment firm founded by Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.The proposal reportedly involved the sale of a 20% stake valued at more than $4 billion.

The plan triggered widespread opposition among football officials, many of whom claimed they were not properly consulted before details became public. Some FIFA executives expressed frustration over the decision-making process, with one senior official reportedly saying he felt “deceived” by the handling of the proposal.

The backlash has intensified calls for leadership changes within FIFA, with some officials reportedly exploring efforts to challenge Infantino’s position.

Infantino, who has built a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup, has reportedly attempted several times to reconnect with Trump following the collapse of the commercial proposal. According to sources, those efforts have so far not received a response.

The controversy has also widened divisions between FIFA and European football authorities. UEFA, European football’s governing body, has reportedly discussed possible measures, including legal action and potential boycotts of FIFA competitions, creating uncertainty over future tournaments.

Any significant withdrawal of European support could have major consequences for global football, potentially affecting participation by some of the world’s biggest national teams and players.

The English Football Association (FA) is now preparing to withdraw its support for Infantino’s bid to remain FIFA president, following the collapse of the proposed commercial restructuring plan.

The move follows similar opposition from other football bodies, including the Football Association of Wales, which has already indicated it will not back Infantino for another term. UEFA and Concacaf have also raised concerns about the lack of consultation surrounding the proposal.

UEFA has warned FIFA that it is considering legal action, arbitration, and regulatory complaints over the planned restructuring. In a letter to Infantino, UEFA reportedly demanded that FIFA preserve all documents and electronic records connected to the project, emphasizing that such material must be protected regardless of standard document retention policies.

FIFA has not yet issued a public response to the latest developments.

On Tuesday morning, Gianni Infantino appeared untouchable as FIFA president, occupying the most powerful position in world football.

Just days later, however, his authority has come under unprecedented pressure after it emerged that he had attempted to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment firms—reportedly without the knowledge or approval of other senior officials.

UEFA, Infantino's most vocal critic, responded forcefully by threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. Sensing a rare opportunity to challenge his leadership, European football's governing body now appears determined to push for his removal. It may represent the strongest chance it has ever had to weaken his grip on power.


Yet UEFA is far from alone in its opposition.

Concacaf, a confederation that had worked closely with Infantino in planning the 2026 World Cup, called for a full review of FIFA's leadership following the proposed investment deal. Even more damaging was the reaction from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), where several member associations that had traditionally supported Infantino also distanced themselves from him.

His difficulties deepened further when two of his closest allies—senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour—left their positions, raising fresh questions about confidence in his leadership.

Although Infantino reversed course in the early hours of Saturday by abandoning the proposal, the move failed to repair the damage. UEFA responded with another strongly worded statement, declaring that it had lost confidence in his leadership.

The battle lines have now been drawn. The question is no longer just about the failed investment proposal, but whether Infantino can retain the support of enough FIFA members to remain in office—or whether this controversy will become the beginning of the end of his presidency.

Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure over his leadership of FIFA following strong criticism from two of football's most influential confederations, UEFA and Concacaf.

According to Huhuonline.com, growing dissatisfaction with FIFA's leadership has intensified after the world football governing body reportedly decided not to proceed with a proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.

On Saturday, both UEFA and Concacaf issued statements criticizing FIFA's leadership following the decision to withdraw the investment proposal.

UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the plan, describing it as a "victory for the whole game." The European governing body accused the current FIFA leadership of failing to uphold the promises of transparency and accountability that Infantino made during his successful campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016.

"The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," UEFA said in a strongly worded statement. The organization further criticized what it described as a lack of transparency in the handling of the proposed investment deal.

Concacaf, which governs football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, echoed UEFA's concerns. While it did not mention Infantino by name, the confederation said the abandoned proposal reflected "a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first."

The regional body added that the episode represented "a unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership" and called for a comprehensive review of FIFA's leadership.

In a separate statement, Concacaf stressed that "accountability cannot be optional," arguing that football stakeholders deserve answers about how such a proposal was allowed to advance and who should be held responsible.

The backlash has increased scrutiny of Infantino's leadership as he prepares for the next FIFA presidential election. Although there have been growing calls from some quarters for greater accountability within FIFA, there has been no official announcement that Infantino intends to resign.

FIFA has yet to issue a detailed response to the criticisms from UEFA and Concacaf.

The almost chaotic scenes at the final match of the 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations in Morocco in January this year should have prepared the minds of football lovers for the man-made orchestrations in this year’s FIFA World Cup that nearly brought the beautiful game of football to disrepute. Never has there been so much deep-seated sour taste in the mouth in any edition of the global showpiece as the 2026 edition hosted by Mexico/United States/Canada.

Admittedly, one must salute the high level of football artistry on display by the 48 participating countries, including the quality of a few any football fans might have hitherto dismissed with a wave of the hands. The politics, manipulations, and glaring inactions by Gianni Infantino’s FIFA and a few ego-filled teams point to a dangerous dimension that portends serious danger to the health of the beautiful game.

In his 10th year in charge of FIFA, Infantino is clearly on a descent, and towards an unplanned exit that may save the Italian from drowning himself in shame.

Never has a FIFA president demonstrated his readiness to be manipulated by the powerful regardless of the risk of such a move. This man has strangely and obviously demonstrated his preference for certain teams over others. Only Infantino would be able to explain why he was able to threaten fire and brimstone after the drama at the AFCON final in Rabat between eventual champion, Senegal, and hosts Morocco, but curiously became blind after the embarrassment football was subjected to by ‘FIFA-anointed team’, Argentina, who deservedly lost the final match to European champions, Spain, penultimate Sunday.

Don’t miss the point: I love football, having played the round-leather game to my God-given capacity; I only show my partisanship when the Super Eagles played well and lost, not the lame and duck displays the national team put up when struggling to qualify for the just-concluded competition. Interestingly, Nigeria still managed to win some ‘trophies’ at the World Cup in which it did not participate. You know the ‘unnamed trophies’ more than I do. So, you don’t need my help to list them.

Up until this moment, I still do not understand what Argentina deserved at the end of the final whistle of the 2026 World Cup with the level of football they played against Spain in the final. I won’t take away the respect the Argentines deserved, going through the group stages; through the knockout matches (especially with the help of malleable referees), and landing at the final while fighting to retain the crown they won four years ago in Doha, Qatar.

With the benefit of hindsight, one is tempted to submit that the quality of the La Albiceleste at the 2026 World Cup was below the quality of the squad that won the cup in Qatar, where they lost their opening match 1-2 to Saudi Arabia.


In 2026, some remote arrangements, however, ensured that despite a few lapses, the Argentines progressed seamlessly into the knockout stages, where they suddenly realised they were the ‘FIFA hot favourites’ for the ultimate prize, signposted by unexplainable favourable and strange decisions. The marketing prospects of keeping the South Americans in the competition obviously overshadowed all considerations in FIFA’s calculations and deliberate inactions.

As in all facets of human life, there are certain gaps that wouldn’t be covered forever by man-made arrangements. Despite tolerating the customary excesses of the Argentines in the first half, Slovenian Slavko Vincic stamped his authority, which resulted in the sending off of the usually pompous Enzo Fernandez and the eventual capitulation of the La Albiceleste.

The deserved defeat of the Argentines in the one-sided match against Spain is not my interest in this piece, by the way. It is the disgraceful attitude of the losers and the criminal silence of the Infantino-led FIFA since the embarrassing episode of the aftermath of the World Cup final match penultimate Sunday.

Anti-apartheid icon and former South African President, Mr Nelson Mandela, once said, “Sports can create hope, where there was once only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” By the way, this particular statement might have been erased even in South Africa itself by narrow-minded nincompoops masquerading as leaders in the nation’s current setup.

A former US diplomat and civil rights leader, Andrew Young, while supporting some of the good attributes of sports, said, “I’ve always seen the Olympics as a place where you could act out your differences on the athletic field with a sense of sportsmanship and fairness and mutual respect,” the latter part being the anchor of the statement. Also, a former US President, Theodore Roosevelt, examined the good and bad sides of sports prowess. “Character counts for a great deal more than either intellect or body in winning success in life. Athletic proficiency is a mighty good servant, and like so many other good servants, a mighty bad master,” he stated.

By Ademola Oni

In sports especially, which help to unite people of all races (at least, so it seems) more than most governmental structures in the world today, there will always be songs of victory and the lamentation of defeat. Essentially, what separates the two is the mood and the maturity the parties bring to it.

A line in ‘Beast of No Nation’, one of the iconic masterpieces of Abami Eda, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, kept popping up as I was battling to keep Long Range in check. This line simply says “This uprising will bring out the beast in us.” Fela was not the originator of this line, by the way.


PW Botha, one of the apartheid leaders in South Africa, had made this unguarded statement to belittle the uprising, protests and physical violence against apartheid rule in South Africa in the mid-80s. Pitiably, illiterate, ignorant and ungrateful black South Africans have turned on other blacks in the former apartheid enclave, killing some, looting their property, shutting down their businesses and telling them to go ‘beck’ to their countries.

It is basically impossible for the hands of the clock to go back many years. This current generation of South Africans, including their pretentious leaders, shouldn’t have been part of the package of freedom, if you ask me, but thank you for not asking.

Let’s go back to the World Cup. At the penultimate tournament in Qatar, after the Kylian Mbappe-inspired France lost the FIFA World Cup final to Argentina, French President Emanuel Macron personally embraced the players, encouraging them to be proud of their outstanding display. The players and officials didn’t bring down the stadium, nor did they turn the presentation ceremonies into a showpiece of crass moral ineptitude like our South American ‘superstars’ exhibited in New Jersey.

I’m not a mind reader, but I’m sure something else was going through the minds of the Argentine players and officials at the end of the match in New Jersey on July 19 that so many people didn’t see. Like Spain crippled the machinery of Mbappe-led France attack in the semi-finals, the European champions equally shut down the Lionel Messi troops in a more spectacular fashion in the final. The South Americans did not register a single shot on goal throughout the 120 minutes of football action. Even our dear Super Eagles, on their day, would have done better.

So then, can someone explain to me why the Argentines decided to bring out the beast in them on this occasion? Why would national team players throw decorum to the wind, preferring the mentality of beasts? Would punching the Spaniards assuage the pain of the defeat on the night? The Argentines were, however, lucky that a player like Sergio Ramos was not in the Spain squad on the day. Cape Verde, Egypt and England partly lost to the Argentines, not because of superior football mastery but to the obvious conspiratorial machinations of Infantino and FIFA, a very dangerous trend.

The Argentines didn’t start their shenanigans in the final. After their 2-1 victory over England in the semi-finals, the still embittered South Americans decided to mock England for losing the Falkland Islands to the Europeans after their defeat in the 74-day battle in 1982. The question is, why on the field of play? Were they reprimanded?

How does one categorise the role of Infantino’s FIFA in the excesses of the Argentines at the World Cup? At the end of the AFCON final in Rabat and the drama that attended the match in January, the FIFA president started spitting fire, culminating in the purported stripping of the Senegalese of their well-deserved AFCON title.


More than a week after the Argentines’ show of shame in New Jersey, Infantino has not found his voice in roundly condemning the South Americans for bringing the beautiful game to global disrepute. Who is this man trying to please?

It is clearly a crime against humanity for a team to believe that through sheer manipulation, the trophy of the FIFA World Cup could be handed over to it no matter how poorly it played. In this case, Argentina (and by extension, Infantino) lost the World Cup on the field of play, deservedly so, and outside the field, the respect of the global football family by bringing out the beast in them.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias, widely known as Vozinha, is set to join Chilean football powerhouse Colo Colo after his remarkable performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 40-year-old veteran emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise stars, delivering a series of impressive displays against eventual champions Spain and defending champions Argentina.

While the transfer has not yet been officially completed, Colo Colo hinted at the move on Friday by sharing an image believed to feature Vozinha’s trademark curly hair.

“Bienvenido. Welcome. Bem-vindo. We look forward to seeing you at the Monumental Stadium,” the club posted on its social media platforms, sparking excitement among supporters and Chilean football fans.

Chile, meanwhile, missed out on qualification for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup, making the arrival of an international star of Vozinha’s profile even more significant for local fans.

Reuters reported that Aníbal Mosa, president of Blanco y Negro — the company that manages Colo Colo — confirmed the goalkeeper would travel to Chile in the coming days to complete the move.

“Vozinha is going to be a Colo Colo player. In the next few days, he will travel to Chile, undergo the necessary medical examinations, and then be presented here at the Estadio Monumental,” Mosa said.

The club president praised Vozinha’s World Cup performances, noting that his displays earned him the opportunity to join Colo Colo while also providing the club with additional commercial value.

Vozinha joined the World Cup after leaving Portuguese second-tier club Chaves and quickly became a global name. He was selected by fans for FIFA’s World Cup Dream Team after helping tournament debutants Cape Verde secure a goalless draw against Spain and take Argentina into extra time in the Round of 32.

The experienced goalkeeper captained Cape Verde during their historic first World Cup appearance before the African side were eliminated by Argentina in a dramatic 3–2 extra-time defeat.

His performances also brought him worldwide attention off the pitch, with his social media following reportedly growing from fewer than 50,000 followers before the tournament to nearly 29 million

LeBron James has made what he says will be the final decision of his NBA career, signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers after giving serious thought to retirement.

The 41-year-old announced Friday that he still has the passion to compete and believes he has one more championship run left. The deal, which includes a player option, marks a significant pay cut from the nearly $53 million he earned with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

In a series of posts on X, James reflected on the uncertainty surrounding his future following the 2025-26 season.

"I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game," he wrote.

After taking time to evaluate his future, James said he realized he wasn't ready to walk away.

"I still truly love this game, and I have more to give."

James said his decision to join Philadelphia was driven by one goal: competing for another NBA championship. The 76ers become the fourth franchise of his career as he pursues a fifth title while hoping to help end the team's 43-year championship drought.

Calling it the last free-agency decision of his career, James made it clear that his motivation extends far beyond money.

"This is my last decision. I'm not going for money. I'm not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?" James wrote. "I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship."

James added that he believes he can help make the 76ers a championship contender and is excited to begin one final chapter with a new team and fan base as he enters a record-breaking 24th NBA season.

A sum of N2.08 billion has been budgeted for the preparation and participation of Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Monday.

Speaking while defending the federation’s budget before the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Sports, NFF Secretary-General, Musa Amadu explained that a grant of N1. 25bn has been secured from the Federal Government, while the deficit of N829.89m would be sourced from alternative donors.

The budget reveals that each Super Eagle would receive a cumulative $107,500 as winning bonus should the team win the tournament, while Coach Stephen Keshi would receive $215,000.

Each player would get $10,000 for the three matches in the first round, while the head coach would receive double the amount. For the knock-out stages, each player’s pay rises to $12,500 in the Round-of-16, $15,000 in the quarterfinal and $20,000 in the semi-final.

The assistant coaches, team doctor, physiotherapist, welfare officer as well as secretary would receive different amounts as winning bonus, same as the psychologist, media officer, team security officer, match analyst and equipment manager.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Godfrey Gaiya praised NFF for its recent successes in football, and assured of the committee’s cooperation towards raising the needed N800 million.

“I have always assured Nigerians that funding for our football should not be seen as a problem”, he said.

“We have a president that is sensitive to this sector and he has said so time without number that they should make their preparation. You can see that there is a grant for the World Cup outside the NFF’s main budget and that grant is a proposal. The moment we go beyond the round of 16, certainly more money will be given”.

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