Uefa has lost confidence in Fifa president Gianni Infantino's leadership, and the European governing body has threatened to boycott all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup.
After trying to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investment firms without the knowledge of others, Infantino's position appears to be under threat. Uefa's move on Thursday has left Infantino facing the music, with European football's governing body sensing an opportunity to remove him.
Concacaf, the confederation Infantino worked with to organize the 2026 World Cup, has called for a "full review" into the leadership of Fifa in light of Infantino's plan. Loyal countries in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have also shunned him, and two of his closest allies, senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, have abandoned him.
Infantino backtracked in the early hours of Saturday morning, but Uefa delivered another devastating blow by issuing a strong statement saying it had lost confidence in him. The battles lines have been drawn, and it remains to be seen what will happen next.
The quickest route for Infantino's exit would be for him to resign, like his predecessor Sepp Blatter did in 2015. However, Infantino still retains support and could try to hold out until March, when he is up for re-election for a fourth and final term as president.
Uefa has nine members on the Fifa Council, and if 19 of the 37 members call for an emergency meeting, Infantino could be forced to tender his resignation. However, he could simply refuse to do so, adding further pressure on him.
The next step would be an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations, which would be held if one-fifth, or 43 associations, "make such a request in writing". Uefa, with 55 nations, can trigger the extraordinary congress whenever it so wishes, but there is no guarantee of success.
In theory, the quickest way for Infantino to be removed is for Uefa to gain the support of other confederations, including Concacaf, Africa, and Asia. However, this may be difficult, given that Infantino has maintained some level of support from these regions.
A European candidate may struggle to get global support, as it may be seen as trying to take over Fifa itself. However, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa could be potential candidates to replace Infantino.
The most likely candidate appears to be Montagliani, who was elected in 2016 promising governance reform and was heavily involved in the build-up to and delivery of the 2026 World Cup. Another option could be Sheikh Salman, who has carried with him a 46-member confederation, many of whom are aware of the figures being offered by Infantino's plan.
Infantino's fate remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the football world is watching with bated breath as the drama unfolds. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the future of Fifa and its president.
Source: BBC Sports