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Infantino abandons controversial plan to open FIFA to private investors
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Economy & Trade

Infantino abandons controversial plan to open FIFA to private investors

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino abandoned a plan to open the organization to private investors after facing widespread criticism.
  • The proposal, which aimed to raise $10 billion for football development, sparked fears of commercializing the sport and potential conflicts of interest.
  • Major football confederations, including UEFA, had threatened boycotts and expressed strong opposition to the plan.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a controversial plan to allow private investors into the organization, citing the divisions it created.

After listening carefully to all viewpoints, it became clear that the project has created divisions... which are no longer in the interest of the original objective.

— Gianni InfantinoFIFA President Gianni Infantino explaining his decision to withdraw the plan.

"After listening carefully to all viewpoints, it became clear that the project has created divisions... which are no longer in the interest of the original objective," Infantino stated in a press release. He added, "Our goal has always been, and will always be, to unite and progress. The proposal will therefore not be pursued."

The plan, introduced last week, aimed to raise $10 billion over four years for football development by creating a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage commercial and event activities. Critics feared this would lead to the denaturing of competitions and the sport itself.

Our goal has always been, and will always be, to unite and progress. The proposal will therefore not be pursued.

— Gianni InfantinoFIFA President Gianni Infantino announcing the abandonment of the private investor plan.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), representing 55 European federations, had unanimously threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the project proceeded. Other confederations, such as CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), also rejected or expressed concerns about the proposal due to a lack of broad consensus and transparency.

The future of world football must always be organized around appropriate consultations, collective dialogue, and respect for the governance structures of our sport.

— Shaikh SalmanPresident of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) reacting to the withdrawal.

The withdrawal comes as Infantino faces additional pressure following the recent resignation of his chief advisor, Carlos Cordeiro. The decision to abandon the plan was met with relief by some, with the Mexican Football Federation stating on X that they were pleased unity was prioritized for the good of football.

We are pleased that the unity of all confederations and federations has been prioritized in the interest of football.

— Mexican Football FederationStatement on X following FIFA's decision.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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