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FIFA and Infantino receive huge backlash for controversial plan to ‘sell the World Cup’

FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino receive huge backlash for a controversial plan to ‘sell the World Cup’.

As reported by the Financial Times and the Times, the proposal aims to raise billions of pounds, looking at private investment in its competitions via a new commercial entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise.

But the plan has been met with widespread criticism, with FA having deep concerns and UEFA even threatening to boycott the World Cup, with an emergency meeting of UEFA nations planned this week.

And now, as this story continues to develop, Gianni Infantino has sent a letter to all federation presidents, offering £30million per country and giving them until the 19th of September to support his commercial company project/privatisation of revenues or face missing out on extra funding.

The leaked letter, which can be read in full here, read: “The decision on whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you.

“Should you wish to proceed this $10b package will become available as of January 1, 2027, ushering in the next phase of our journey together.

“Should you wish to retain the status quo and reject this proposal we still have our planned expansion of the Forward programme [development money] of $2.7b as previously presented.

“In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of January 1, 2027 each member association will have the possibility of access up to $40m per member association under this proposal.”

 

UEFA STATEMENT:

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every national football association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.

“None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

FA STATEMENT:

“We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached.

“Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved.

“When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear, and comment further.”

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The Football Association of Wales say they ‘haven’t received any substantial details from FIFA concerning the reported proposals’ and are ‘concerned that such matters have become public prior to being shared with FIFA’s member associations’.

They add ‘we await receipt of FIFA’s full proposal before commenting further on this matter’.

STATEMENT FROM UK PM ANDY BURNHAM:

“Let me say this very directly.

“Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.

“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.

“Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”

STATEMENT FROM CONCACAF:

“Concacaf was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release. We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process.

“We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place.

“As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, FIFA, the Confederations and every Member Association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport. Every decision we make must be guided by good governance, robust processes and long-term stewardship.

“This is the framework within which Concacaf operates. We trust that all within the FIFA family will act in the same manner.”

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STATEMENT FROM ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION:

“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has noted FIFA’s announcement concerning the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

“The AFC was not consulted on the proposal and is disappointed that a matter of such significance entered the public domain before the AFC family had been afforded the opportunity to examine and discuss it through the appropriate and established governance channels.

“While the AFC recognises the importance of exploring innovative approaches that can strengthen the future of global football, initiatives of this scale and consequence must be founded upon the principles of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation.

“Decisions that may reshape the commercial and financial future of the game require comprehensive prior engagement with Confederations, Member Associations and other relevant stakeholders before any proposal is made to the appropriate decision-making body(ies).

“The AFC firmly believes that all stakeholders should be provided with sufficient information and adequate time to assess the proposal in full, including its governance, legal, commercial and strategic implications.

“Such a process is essential to ensuring that any decision reflects the collective interests of the global football community and reinforces confidence in FIFA’s governance framework.

“As one of global football’s six Confederations, the AFC remains committed to the continued growth of world football.”

Gary Neville gave his thoughts: It’s typical. I think of many actions that we’ve seen from large organisations in last five or ten years.

“It’s not surprising anymore some of the things we saw in the World Cup.

“You’re trying to paint a picture always that’s positive about football because there’s so much to love and there are great games.

“But then you see some of the things that happen from a governance perspective and from a leadership perspective and it falls well short of the standards that to be fair football fans would expect and anybody would want for the game.”

@frlydensmith, a Catholic Parish Priest in Sunderland and chaplain to Sunderland AFC, tweeted: “Football is not the possession of those who can afford to buy it.

“It is a gift entrusted to the countless men, women, and children who gather in the stands, who line the touchlines, who brave the wind and the rain, and who return, season after season, because hope is stronger than disappointment and belonging deeper than victory.

“The #WorldCup is more than a commercial asset or a commodity to be traded.

“It is one of those rare moments when humanity glimpses itself as a single family, united not by power or wealth, but by a shared delight in the beauty of the game.

“Such things cannot truly be owned, and what cannot be owned ought never to be sold. #Football belongs to its people.

“It belongs to those whose songs give it its voice, whose loyalty sustains it through triumph and failure alike, and whose love cannot be measured on a balance sheet.

“Long before investors discovered its value, the people had already given it its soul.

“Long after every contract has expired, it is they who will keep its heart beating. #FIFA”

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