Three of world football’s most powerful governing bodies have publicly called for Fifa president Gianni Infantino to step down, according to the Guardian. Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf jointly wrote an open letter demanding “leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it”.

The move represents what the Guardian described as a dramatic escalation in a dispute that has threatened to tear the sport apart. The conflict emerged after details became public of Infantino’s failed Football Forward Enterprise scheme.

In the open letter, the three confederations accused Infantino of “trust broken through deception”. They also condemned what they characterised as his failure to acknowledge that the proposal should not have been unilaterally launched.

Alongside the push for Infantino’s resignation, the confederations are reported to be discussing rival competitions, according to the Guardian. Such a development would signal a deepening rift within the international game.

Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is seen as a top contender to succeed Infantino, the Guardian reported. No further details on a formal succession process were provided in the available reporting.

The dispute pits three regional confederations against the head of world football’s governing body, raising questions about the future direction and unity of the sport at its highest level.