FIFA Scraps Commercial Stake Sale Plan Amid Member Opposition

Global football governing body FIFA has abandoned its proposal to sell a stake in its commercial operations after facing significant resistance from several member associations, notably UEFA.

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Having listened carefully to all views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature ?that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

The plan, unveiled earlier in the week, intended to raise approximately $4.2 billion by divesting around 20% of a newly established commercial entity. This entity was slated to manage FIFA events, including the World Cup, valuing the business at an estimated $20 billion. However, the proposal quickly drew criticism, with UEFA voting to boycott it and accusing FIFA of compromising the sport's integrity by seeking external investment in its core commercial activities.

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Our purpose has always been - and will ?always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the withdrawal late Friday, acknowledging that the project had generated divisions. "Having listened carefully to all views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place," Infantino stated. He added that FIFA's purpose remains to unite and improve the sport, and the proposal would not move forward.

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Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.

Infantino expressed his intention to reconvene stakeholders in the coming days and weeks to foster collaboration and continue growing football worldwide, particularly in regions most in need of support. The decision followed the resignation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino's senior advisor, Carlos Cordeiro, who deemed the proposal "a bad deal for football." FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also reportedly criticized the plan, suggesting it was the initiative of a single individual and that staff felt misled.

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a bad deal for football.