UEFA pressure on Infantino grows as Greek FA, Bierhoff back change

THESSALONIKI, Greece, Sept 15 : Greek Football Association president Makis Gagatsis and former Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff on Tuesday backed UEFA's push for change in FIFA's leadership, underscoring a united European front in opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

"The Greek FA (EPO) has taken a clear position against a candidacy of Gianni Infantino," EPO President Makis Gagatsis told reporters.

"We saw things happen at the World Cup that are not acceptable to football public opinion," Gagatsis said.

"Then... came a programme to sell World Cup rights and we are clearly against it, so we withdrew our support of the FIFA president."

He was speaking after a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, with a "legends'" five-a-side game held in the city centre to promote UEFA's grassroots programme.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was also present at the event but did not talk to media.

Infantino has been under mounting pressure ever since he unveiled a proposal to sell a commercial stake of the World Cup to private investors. The plan prompted fierce opposition, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and North America's CONCACAF among those calling for change at the top of FIFA.

FIFA quickly abandoned the plan and apologised to member associations for mistakes made, but its leadership reaffirmed support for Infantino after a crisis meeting in August in Morocco.

UEFA has been among the staunchest critics of Infantino and have said a change in leadership is now necessary given the loss of trust in Infantino, who is planning to run for re-election in March.

"We have to take care of football," Bierhoff, who was Germany's national team director for 18 years until