FIFA’s Gianni Infantino scraps controversial World Cup investment plan

FIFA’s Gianni Infantino scraps the controversial World Cup investment plan, after facing widespread criticism.

UEFA were the first to announce a boycott of all FIFA tournaments if football’s governing body didn’t withdraw plans to sell stakes in the World Cup. CONCACAF and AFC joined UEFA in also not approving the proposals. South America’s CONMEBOL also wanted more information from FIFA.

FIFA had hit back at UEFA’s decision, with a statement denying it was “selling football” and then took issue with “incorrect media reports” which ‘disrupted the consultation process’.

Infatino’s adviser quit, new UK PM Andy Burnham called for resignation and then FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour issued a scathing statement.

Statement attributable to the FIFA President

“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, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”

Just a few hours before the announcement to scrap its controversial World Cup investment plan, FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour said:

“Since I joined FIFA a little less than two years ago, I’ve gone from one surprise to the next. I’ve seen enough to make a great series.

“But what has been announced in recent days and what has been happening behind the scenes in recent months defies belief and imagination.

“To put it very clearly and directly: the project that has sparked so much controversy and debate is not a FIFA project. It is even less a project of FIFA’s administration. It is the project of one person.

“The FIFA vice-presidents, the members of the FIFA Council, the confederations, the federations, the players, the leagues, the clubs, and the fans were not the only ones who were ignored. FIFA’s own administration was also deceived.

This lie by omission over many months and this unilateral exercise of power are not trivial. They are indicative of a lack of trust, a lack of transparency, a lack of discernment, a lack of good governance. And a serious lack of respect.

“Not only must this project not go ahead – for obvious reasons that need not even be listed here – but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.

Regarding this project and what comes next, everyone must take responsibility, because it is becoming increasingly difficult for FIFA’s administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission.

“Our mission – the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated and exemplary FIFA employees – is to serve football. Not to serve the personal interests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he is supposed to be at its service.

“A president must bring people together, unite them and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite. I have no authority to speak on behalf of my colleagues, and perhaps I am mistaken. But my feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for FIFA, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us. That saddens me.

“My colleagues – some of whom have dedicated their lives to football – deserve better than contempt and intimidation.

“The ball is now in the court of those who have the power to change things.

“I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to the upbringing I have received, and a duty to support my colleagues. And if that means I lose my job, then so be it.

“I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

SEE MORE: Full statement as Carlos Cordeiro quits as Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser at FIFA