Gianni Infantino is facing a rebellion within Fifa's Council, with members attempting to force an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) that could escalate into a full leadership challenge against the Fifa president. The Guardian reports that moves to trigger an EGM were already under way before Infantino's abortive plan to sell stakes in the World Cup emerged, driven instead by anger over the unprecedented decision to lift Folarin Balogun's suspension during the World Cup following reported phone calls from Donald Trump.

Fifa Council comprises 37 voting members, and a motion from 19 of them can trigger an EGM; rebels are understood to have already reached double figures. Discontent deepened after it emerged Infantino had secretly proposed selling 20% of a new World Cup operating company to Thrive Capital, a firm founded by Joshua Kushner, prompting Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation to denounce the plan, which was subsequently scrapped. While Uefa and Concacaf have since called for a governance review, Africa's and South America's confederations, plus Qatar, remain supportive of Infantino, meaning Asian backing will likely prove decisive in any attempt to oust him before the Council's scheduled November meeting.