Infantino under threat as nations 'lose faith' in FIFA boss over World Cup plot

Gianni Infantino is losing support to remain as FIFA president after his World Cup plan went up in smoke with countries ready to boycott the tournament.

The FIFA boss announced earlier this week a proposal to sell part of the tournament to private investors, but 90 of the 211 football associations are now against his plan.

UEFA held an emergency meeting where they unanimously agreed to boycott the World Cup in 2030 - leaving the likes of England, France and champions Spain absent - if FIFA did go forward with their plan to create commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including its World Cups, with external investors able to buy stakes in it.

Infantino now faces a battle to survive this latest controversy with the backlash against him growing rapidly.

It is understood that the majority of the 41 CONCACAF members are losing confidence in Infantino and their leader, Victor Montagliani of Canada, is a potential successor if Infantino is forced out. Equally UEFA would like to see PSG's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi go for the role.

Infantino's predecessor Sepp Blatter quit amid scandal and a growing backlash in 2015, which saw Infantino become president in 2016, but this is the biggest challenge to his status.

The FIFA boss has proved a hugely divisive figure following controversial decisions that included expanding the World Cup, which saw FIFA charge huge sums for tickets and ignore the game's rule to put on a final half-time show. Infantino has also created a new Club World Cup, effectively to rival the Champions League.

UEFA's statement and show of defiance has led to a backtrack from FIFA, who now have declared "no one is selling football" while attempting to blame 'incorrect media reports'.

There has been fury, with UEFA and several of its members leading the way, that FIFA head Gianni Infantino has been secretly working on partly selling off the money-making parts of the governing body to external investors.

In a forceful Europe's governing bod said after meeting with all 55 member associations: "This model has no place in world football. Europe's position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.