UEFA demands FIFA share £4.5bn reserves as Ceferin turns up heat on Infantino

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has formally demanded FIFA share a portion of its £4.5 billion cash reserves with all 211 member associations, writing directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to call for each association to receive £7.5 million. The move is the latest escalation in a sustained campaign by European football’s governing body to force a reckoning over FIFA’s finances.

The pressure follows the fallout from FIFA’s failed World Cup sell-off plan, which hardened UEFA’s opposition to Infantino and prompted calls for him to stand down. Ceferin’s letter argues that the scale of FIFA’s accumulated reserves — built up well beyond what the organisation needs — means the funds should be returned to the game.

“FIFA must of course remain financially strong, meet its existing commitments and maintain an appropriate buffer, and our analysis takes full account of that,” Ceferin wrote. “But FIFA currently holds billions of dollars in accumulated reserves. These resources belong to football and exist to serve the game and its 211 MAs. Prudence should not prevent a careful examination of whether a portion could responsibly be released to the extent those reserves exceed FIFA’s foreseeable needs.”

UEFA’s position is that the associations will receive funding regardless of whether Infantino remains in charge — a deliberate signal that the campaign is not simply about removing the president but about structural accountability.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has also backed the FA’s stance, with the Football Association declining to support Infantino’s re-election bid. “I just told you how I am backed from my bosses, so it’s the minimum I can do is back my bosses,” Tuchel said. “So they have my full support on that and I back their opinion.”

Infantino, 56, has held the FIFA presidency for a decade and is seeking a fourth term. FIFA confirmed he intends to stand: “The FIFA president announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election.”

UEFA are said to be confident a rival candidate can be found. Any challenger would need the backing of at least 106 of FIFA’s 211 member associations to win. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is understood to be under serious consideration. Nominations for the presidency must be submitted by 18 November.