Infantino faces mounting pressure

MANCHESTER, England (AP)

Norway’s football federation has called for Gianni Infantino to step down immediately, piling more pressure on FIFA’s embattled president after his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Federation president Lise Klaveness said the decision was made at a meeting on Thursday.

“When trust is gone, leadership must also be assessed. We therefore believe that Gianni Infantino’s time as FIFA president should be over, and ask him to resign,” Klaveness said via translation.

The announcement is the latest blow for Infantino, who has faced widespread backlash over his controversial proposal to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

UEFA reiterated Thursday that its threat to boycott FIFA competitions remains in place despite FIFA abandoning and apologising for the plan. It also restated its loss of confidence in Infantino.

Earlier this week, Infantino appeared to have quelled internal dissent during a summit with top staff in Rabat, Morocco, where FIFA said he received full support. But UEFA’s defiance, followed by Norway’s direct call for his resignation, underscored Europe’s anger.

The English Football Association has also withdrawn support for Infantino’s re-election next March, though Mexico’s federation has offered backing.

Norway’s federation said it would raise concerns with FIFA regarding FFE, the peace prize awarded to Donald Trump, and the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban at the World Cup.

“FIFA needs new leadership to rebuild trust, strengthen good governance and ensure that the organization’s own reforms are actually implemented,” Klaveness added.