Key facts
- FIFA has abandoned its plan to allow private investment in major competitions, including the World Cup.
- The decision followed widespread backlash from stakeholders, including UEFA and CONCACAF.
- UEFA declared a loss of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
- The plan involved creating a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to run events like the World Cup.
- UEFA criticized the plan as 'shabby, back room, opaque' and lacking transparency.
- CONCACAF called for accountability and a 'comprehensive reckoning with this presidency'.
FIFA has abandoned its plan to allow private investment in major competitions, including the World Cup, following significant backlash from continental governing bodies. The decision has led to a loss of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino from UEFA, which described the proposal as a 'shabby, back room, opaque deal' that lacked transparency.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has been a vocal critic of the plan, stating that FIFA's current leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family. UEFA plans to work with other confederations to ensure such a situation cannot occur again.
The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) also called for accountability, criticizing Infantino's 'poor governance and leadership' and stating that the plan advanced outside established governance frameworks. The English and German Football Associations echoed these sentiments, calling for reviews of FIFA's leadership and a fundamental culture change.
FIFA had floated the plan earlier in the week, proposing to raise up to $4.2 billion based on a $20 billion valuation for a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan suggested a one-off payment of $20 million to each of FIFA's 211 member associations and an increased funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle. However, critics argued that FIFA's claim of football being 'under-monetised' was flawed and raised concerns about potential for extremely high ticket prices and paywalled broadcasts.