UEFA is convening its member federations in Berlin to strategize against FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of the March 18 election in Rabat, Morocco. UEFA’s actions stem from concerns over Infantino's controversial World Cup private investment plan and his leadership style, which they view as mistrustful. The organization plans to prepare a criminal complaint against Infantino for potential financial mismanagement and is seeking evidence through U.S. courts. Despite having around 90 pledged votes already, UEFA’s push faces internal divisions within Europe and needs to identify a candidate by November 18 to challenge Infantino effectively.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
UEFA football leaders are meeting on Wednesday and Thursday in Berlin to strategize about ousting Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, following his controversial World Cup private investment plan. The European soccer governing body, along with its 55 member federations, is considering a criminal complaint against Infantino for potential financial mismanagement related to the World Cup deal. UEFA also seeks court authorization in the United States to gather evidence against Infantino. This move comes as part of longstanding mistrust towards Infantino's leadership at FIFA since his departure from UEFA.
Written for “UEFA Football Strategy Meeting” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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UEFA has called its 55 member federations to a previously scheduled summit on Thursday in Berlin that arrives in the midst of European efforts to get a new leader for football’s world body.
left describes UEFA's actions as an effort to remove Infantino, implying support for change
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Infantino’s divisive World Cup private investment plan – that failed within days of being revealed in July – pushed UEFA to act on longstanding mistrust of its former employee’s increasingly executive presidency at FIFA.
left criticizes Infantino's plans and suggests they are the reason for UEFA's actions
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UEFA’s longer-term plans include preparing a criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland for possible financial mismanagement in the World Cup sell-off deal.
left describes legal action against Infantino, implying wrongdoing and support for his removal
Leaning: leans strongly left for article 63365 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-10-07
European football leaders were gathering Wednesday with time pressing to find a candidate and shape their strategy for trying to oust Gianni Infantino as president of FIFA.
asserted
time → gather → FIFA
UEFA has called its 55 member federations to a previously scheduled summit on Thursday in Berlin that arrives in the midst of European efforts to get a new leader for football’s world body.
asserted
that → call → body
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Messi → sign → Morocco
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Ronaldo → punish → availability
Infantino’s divisive World Cup private investment plan – that failed within days of being revealed in July – pushed UEFA to act on longstanding mistrust of its former employee’s increasingly executive presidency at FIFA.
asserted
that → fail → FIFA
UEFA’s longer-term plans include preparing a criminal complaint against Infantino in Switzerland for possible financial mismanagement in the World Cup sell-off deal.
asserted
plans → include → deal
It has asked courts in the United States to authorise discovery of evidence.
asserted
It → ask → evidence
“Somewhere along the way things went too far with FIFA, and we’re looking to put things back where they belong,” UEFA general-secretary Theodore Theodoridis said last month.
asserted
Theodoridis → go → things
Europe’s 55 count for more than a quarter of FIFA’s 211 member federations that can vote in the election on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.
asserted
that → vote → Rabat
Research by The Associated Press news agency suggests Infantino already has about 90 votes pledged – albeit before any potential opponent is known.
uncertain
opponent → suggest → agency
Still, UEFA is not a united bloc.
asserted
UEFA → unite → ?
Infantino has support promised from Azerbaijan, the home country of a close aide, and Latvia.
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Infantino → have → aide
On Wednesday he met with football and government officials in the Czech capital Prague.
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he → meet → capital
First, UEFA and its allies worldwide need to agree on at least one candidate to challenge Infantino by the November 18 deadline to enter the race.
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UEFA → need → race
Which football leaders have been seen as potential candidates?
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leaders → see → candidates
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was joined in August by his fellow FIFA vice presidents from Asia and North America in denouncing Infantino for deception and breach of trust over the World Cup sell-off plan.
asserted
Ceferin → join → plan
Still, neither Ceferin nor his counterparts at the AFC and CONCACAF, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Victor Montagliani of Canada, currently look set to be on the FIFA ballot.
asserted
Ceferin → look → ballot
Ceferin has long dismissed any talk of himself running to lead FIFA, though he said last month at UEFA meetings in Greece there were “many, many” potential candidates.
asserted
he → dismiss → Greece
Montagliani is expected to focus on his own re-election at CONCACAF in February.
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Montagliani → expect → February
He had been favourite in a five-man campaign that Infantino eventually won in February 2016.
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Infantino → win → February
Speculation has often pointed to Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a close ally of Ceferin.
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Speculation → point → Ceferin
The Qatari member of UEFA’s executive committee ruled himself out last week at a meeting of the influential European Football Clubs group he leads.
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he → rule → group
Infantino is part of UEFA’s focus in Berlin for the biennial business meeting of top executives from its member federations, which can debate policy, strategy and international football competitions.
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which → debate → policy
The meeting is expected to discuss proposals for a more transparent FIFA and a presidential candidate willing to commit to those reforms.
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meeting → expect → reforms
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