FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned controversial plans to sell part of future World Cup profits. The decision followed widespread opposition from soccer’s governing bodies.
Strong criticism quickly forced FIFA into a major policy reversal. However, UEFA insists confidence in Infantino’s leadership has now been seriously damaged following the failed proposal.
FIFA Abandons Controversial Infantino Proposal
FIFA had announced plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The new company would have managed FIFA’s commercial rights and tournament operations. Those rights included broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing. Furthermore, FIFA wanted to sell a minority stake in the venture to private equity investors. Member associations were offered a financial incentive worth £30.1 million to approve the proposal before 19 September.
However, the plan immediately attracted criticism across the global soccer community. UEFA strongly opposed the proposal from the outset. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also voiced serious concerns. Political figures joined the criticism as well. Consequently, pressure mounted rapidly on FIFA to reconsider its approach.
Infantino Confirms the Plan Will Not Proceed
In a statement released early on Saturday, Infantino confirmed the proposal had been withdrawn. He acknowledged that the project had become too divisive. Therefore, FIFA decided it could no longer continue with the initiative.
“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed.
“And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.
“Having listened carefully to all the 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. Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed. Moving forward, I intend to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”
Although FIFA abandoned the proposal, questions remain about its decision-making process. Many observers believe the governing body underestimated the scale of resistance. Meanwhile, discussions are expected over how future strategic proposals should be handled. Fans interested in online sports betting will also follow developments closely because governance decisions often influence major international tournaments and their commercial landscape.
AFC Welcomes FIFA’s Decision
The AFC welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon the proposal. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa stressed the importance of proper consultation before major decisions affecting global soccer are made. His comments reflected concerns shared by many national associations.
“Any initiative that has the potential to impact global football will be presented and discussed with the confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner,” he wrote.
“The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game.”
His remarks highlighted the desire for greater transparency. Additionally, they reinforced calls for stronger governance across the international game. Many stakeholders believe consultation should always come before commercial innovation.
UEFA Declares Loss of Confidence
A UEFA statement thanked opponents of the scheme and continued:
“We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.
“It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.
“When Gianni Infantino asked for the trust and the votes of FIFA’s Member Associations to elect him as their president in 2016, he said, ‘Of course we have to be transparent. I have been this in the last 15 years of my life in UEFA. You will have to play a part every day in the life of FIFA’ – before telling the assembled stakeholders, ‘The money of FIFA is your money. It’s not the money of the FIFA president. It’s your money. You are the national associations and the money of FIFA has to serve for the development of football and not for anything else’.
“On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through was anything but transparent.”
UEFA accused Infantino of failing to use existing funds to the benefit of the game.
Senior Figures Increase Pressure
Opposition to the proposal intensified as senior FIFA figures publicly criticised the plan. Former FIFA vice-president Carlos Cordeiro resigned from his advisory role. He described the proposal as damaging to the sport’s long-term future. His resignation added significant weight to the growing backlash.
In an exclusive statement, Cordeiro said: “As a senior advisor to the FIFA president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup.
“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally.”
Chief operating officer Kevin Lamour also criticised the process. He said FIFA staff had been “deceived” by the lack of transparency. Furthermore, he told the Associated Press that employees “deserve better than contempt and intimidation”. Lamour described the proposal as “the project of one person”. As a result, internal criticism matched the growing external pressure facing FIFA.
What FIFA Originally Proposed
Under the original proposal, FIFA Forward Enterprise would have sought external investment. FIFA hoped to raise as much as $4.2 billion by selling minority stakes. The governing body valued the new company at approximately $20 billion. Despite the investment, FIFA insisted outside investors would not gain controlling ownership.
FIFA argued that the project could generate more than $10 billion for soccer development over the next four years. Nevertheless, critics questioned whether selling part of future World Cup revenues represented the best solution, especially because FIFA already holds reserves exceeding $5 billion, and many believed those existing funds should instead be invested directly into grassroots development without introducing private equity into the organisation’s commercial structure.
Political Leaders Join the Opposition
Criticism extended beyond the sport itself. Political leaders also condemned FIFA’s proposal. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged FIFA to review its governance urgently. Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy declared that “Enough is enough. It’s time to take a stand to protect our game.”
The Football Association also expressed deep concern about the proposal. Consequently, opposition came from governing bodies, politicians and influential figures throughout the soccer world. That united response ultimately forced FIFA to abandon its controversial plans. Even so, UEFA has made it clear that rebuilding confidence in FIFA’s leadership will require much more than simply withdrawing one proposal. England (8.99) are currently fourth-favourites for the 2030 World Cup.
