FIFA scraps investor plans for World Cup after widespread backlash

FIFA has abandoned its controversial plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, succumbing to widespread opposition. The decision was announced early Saturday morning, marking a significant reversal for the global football governing body.

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After listening carefully to all viewpoints, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a kind that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the goal that was set in the first place.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino explained the U-turn, stating that the project had created divisions that were counterproductive to its intended purpose. "After listening carefully to all viewpoints, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a kind that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the goal that was set in the first place," Infantino said in a statement to Sky News.

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This crosses a line that football's governing bodies should never cross.

He added that FIFA's aim has always been to unite and improve the sport. "As a result of this, this proposal will not move forward. Going forward, my intention is to bring all interested parties together again in the coming days and weeks in a spirit of common interest for our sport, and with the aim of continuing to develop football everywhere, and especially in the countries that need our support the most."

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This is one man's project. The employees were misled by Infantino's lack of transparency and deserve better than contempt and threats.

The decision followed strong criticism from various stakeholders. UEFA and all its member federations had rejected the plans, with UEFA calling it a step that "crosses a line that football's governing bodies should never cross." FIFA's own Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, accused Infantino of a "lack of transparency" and stated that employees felt "fooled." Carlos Cordeiro, a senior advisor to Infantino, resigned in protest on Friday. Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness also voiced strong opposition, criticizing what she described as a "breakdown of good governance and trust" and unilateral decision-making by the FIFA president.

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It is unfortunately no surprise that we are now experiencing such a breakdown of good governance and trust. As NFF has pointed out in many cases, major decisions have over time been made unilaterally by FIFA's president, without proper processes.