UEFA targets Infantino after FIFA shelves World Cup private investment plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been forced to withdraw a contentious plan to allow private investment in the World Cup, marking a significant climbdown after facing a furious backlash from European football's governing body, UEFA, and other stakeholders.

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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.

UEFA had been the most vocal opponent, threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeded. In a strongly worded statement, UEFA welcomed the withdrawal but declared that Infantino had lost their confidence, along with that of many other members of the football family, due to the "shabby, back room, opaque deal."

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The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.

The plan, revealed earlier in the week, proposed creating a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage events like the World Cup. FIFA had floated the idea that this subsidiary could be valued at $20 billion, potentially raising up to $4.2 billion. If approved, member associations were slated to receive a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027 and an increased funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle.

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The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent.

UEFA accused Infantino of breaking promises made upon his election in 2016, specifically regarding transparency and ensuring that FIFA's finances benefited the game rather than serving the president's interests. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF also expressed concerns, emphasizing the need for transparent and meaningful discussion with all stakeholders before implementing initiatives that could impact global football. The withdrawal comes less than two weeks after Infantino celebrated the success of the expanded 48-team World Cup.

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Any initiative that may impact global football should be “presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations (MAs) and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner.