UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has emerged as a leading critic of FIFA President Gianni Infantino's controversial proposal to sell stakes in FIFA's tournaments to an investor group. The plan, reportedly valued at £3.1 billion, has drawn widespread condemnation and escalated the ongoing conflict between the European football governing body and FIFA.

Ceferin's UEFA has called FIFA's decision to defer a one-match ban for U.S. player Folarin Balogun, which UEFA described as an "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable act," a "red line." This move, seen by some as influenced by Donald Trump, preceded wider opposition from UEFA to Infantino's proposals.

In response to the leaked plan to sell tournament shares, UEFA's European members voted to boycott FIFA tournaments. This opposition has since been echoed by the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, indicating a broad front against Infantino's initiative.

The rivalry between Ceferin and Infantino is not new. Both men ascended to their current roles in 2016, having previously worked together at UEFA in the early 2010s. However, their relationship has become increasingly strained over the direction of international football, with Ceferin frequently appearing defiant of Infantino's expansionist policies.

UEFA has also voiced its disapproval of other FIFA decisions, including the handling of a FIFA-approved referee, Omar Artan, who was reportedly barred from entering the U.S. by the Trump administration. UEFA publicly welcomed Artan to officiate their Super Cup final, a gesture seen by some as a subtle critique of FIFA's perceived acquiescence.

Further points of contention include FIFA's introduction of mandatory 'hydration breaks' during matches, which UEFA has stated will not be present at the 2028 European Championships. UEFA also opposes FIFA's plans to further expand the World Cup, with Ceferin calling the idea of a 64-team tournament for 2030 a "bad" one.

Ceferin's opposition to Infantino's plans has also been evident in his past actions. In 2018, he criticized Infantino's relaunch of the expanded Club World Cup, viewing it as a potential threat to UEFA's Champions League. He accused Infantino of "selling the soul of football" to private funds, emphasizing that "Football is not for sale."

In 2021, Ceferin was a prominent opponent of the breakaway European Super League (ESL). He led UEFA's efforts to prevent the formation of the league, which proposed a closed-shop format that contrasted with UEFA's emphasis on open competition and sporting merit. Ceferin described the ESL announcement as a "spit in the face of football lovers and of society as a whole."

Despite positioning himself as a defender of football's integrity, Ceferin's own background has faced scrutiny. An investigation in 2017 alleged he may have lacked the necessary credentials for his appointment as head of the Slovenian FA. Nevertheless, his vocal opposition to Infantino's plans suggests a willingness to confront FIFA's leadership directly.