FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces potential ousting after backlash over secretive plans to sell stakes in competitions to private investors, with Uefa threatening a boycott and multiple federations expressing discontent.
FIFA has abandoned its proposal to allow private investors to purchase stakes in major competitions, including World Cups, following fierce opposition from confederations like UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC, which cited concerns over governance and the commercialization of the sport.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the scrapping of plans to sell a stake in the World Cup and other events to private investors, following overwhelming global backlash and expressions of no confidence from major football bodies like UEFA and the Dutch FA.
FIFA defends its plan to allow private investors to acquire stakes in World Cup tournaments, facing strong opposition and boycott threats from UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC. The proposal, aiming to raise $4.2 billion, would provide significant payments to member associations but is criticized for commercializing the sport.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under increasing pressure as global football bodies UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC, along with a senior advisor, oppose his controversial plans to sell a stake in a new commercial subsidiary to private equity investors, prompting boycott threats.
UEFA members unanimously voted to boycott FIFA tournaments if Gianni Infantino's private investment plan (FFE) isn't scrapped by September 19. This decision marks a victory for UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, but FIFA is expected to resist, setting the stage for an escalating power struggle within global football governance.
UEFA and Concacaf members unanimously voted to boycott future World Cups if FIFA sells stakes in its competitions to private investors. FIFA denied "selling football" and plans a consultation, but appeared to back off from establishing a public equity group without member agreement.
Former England defender Anita Asante warns women's football will suffer first if Fifa sells competition stakes to private investors, as Uefa's 55 member associations boycott Fifa competitions.
Uefa and Andy Burnham have condemned Fifa’s plan to invite private investment into a new commercial subsidiary. Fifa says the move would expand football development funding, but critics fear it could commercialise the World Cup further.
