Infantino vows to stay and do 'what is right' as Uefa and FA pile pressure on Fifa chief

Gianni Infantino has signalled he has no intention of resigning as Fifa president, posting a defiant message on Instagram insisting he is focused on doing “what is right for the game” as pressure from Uefa and the Football Association intensifies ahead of a crunch council meeting in Zurich on 15 October.

The Swiss executive’s statement came after he promised to launch an independent review of Fifa’s governance structures — a commitment critics say has done little to address the core concerns surrounding a proposed private investment vehicle to manage the World Cup and other tournaments. Details of the deal were first reported in July, and Uefa has since filed US court petitions demanding access to related files. The European governing body could also file a criminal complaint in Switzerland if evidence emerges that Infantino undervalued the commercial entity at $20 billion.

Fifa has dismissed Uefa’s legal actions as a “smear campaign”, but the scrutiny is widening. Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who serves as a Fifa vice-president and sits on the Fifa Council, has written directly to Infantino demanding disclosure of files relating to both the investment plan and the handling of the Folarin Balogun eligibility case. Hewitt intends to confront him in person at the Zurich council meeting.

Infantino has also drawn criticism for what US House Judiciary Committee members described as “woefully inadequate” co-operation with a congressional investigation into his relationship with President Donald Trump.

His Instagram message — calling for “a culture of dialogue, of listening to each other and respecting one another” — was posted from Jeddah, where he was in discussions with senior Saudi figures. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have both positioned themselves as key backers for Infantino as he seeks a fourth presidential term at next year’s election.

Uefa, for its part, has pledged to put forward a credible challenger before the candidacy submission deadline of 18 November, setting the stage for what could be the most contested Fifa presidential race in years.