FIFA president Gianni Infantino has officially scrapped his controversial proposal to sell a share of future World Cup revenues to private‑equity investors, bowing to a wave of opposition from the sport's governing bodies. The reversal came after UEFA publicly announced that it no longer trusts Infantino, a stance that has been echoed by the English Football Association and several other national associations.
The original plan, unveiled on a Tuesday, was to launch a new commercial vehicle called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The initiative was designed to bundle the sale of FIFA's commercial rights – broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing – with the operational delivery of its tournaments. Infantino gave member associations a deadline of 19 September to endorse the scheme, sweetening the offer with a £30.1 million incentive for those who voted in favour.
The proposal sparked immediate and fierce criticism from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Even UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham weighed in, demanding an urgent review of FIFA's governance structures.
In response, Infantino issued a statement in the early hours of Saturday, insisting that the FFE project was intended to strengthen FIFA members and to support football in nations that need it most, but only if a clear majority of members backed it after a thorough consultation process. After listening to the feedback, Infantino concluded that the plan had created divisions that outweighed any potential benefits. He wrote: "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." He added that he would now focus on bringing all stakeholders back together to continue growing the game, especially in under‑served countries.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the AFC, praised the decision on the confederation’s website, stressing that any initiative with global impact must be discussed transparently with the FIFA Council, member associations and other stakeholders. UEFA issued a similarly supportive statement, thanking fans, leagues, clubs, players, governments and commentators for standing up against what it described as a "secret scheme" that attempted to commercialise the sport without proper oversight. UEFA warned that it would work with its members and other confederations to conduct a thorough review of how such a proposal could have been advanced without consultation. It argued that the current FIFA leadership had lost the confidence not only of UEFA but also of many other parts of the football family.
The statement quoted Infantino’s 2016 promise that "the money of FIFA is your money" and accused him of failing to deliver on that pledge, noting that FIFA now holds reserves exceeding $5 billion that could be used for grassroots development rather than being sold off. The English FA echoed UEFA’s position, declaring full support for a robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance. It called for a transparent overhaul that would serve all 211 member nations and protect the long‑term stewardship of the sport. The backlash intensified after senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned, labeling the privatisation plan a "bad deal for football" and "for the long‑term future of the game." In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Cordeiro said he had no involvement in the proposal and opposed it unequivocally.
FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour also voiced concern, telling the Associated Press that staff had been "deceived" by Infantino’s lack of openness and deserved better treatment than what he described as "contempt and intimidation." Under the original FFE model, FIFA hoped to raise up to $4.2 billion from external investors by selling minority, non‑controlling stakes in a $20 billion valuation. The revenue was projected to fund more than $10 billion in football development programmes over four years. However, the plan required approval from member associations, and the overwhelming criticism from UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC and political leaders such as Andy Burnham and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy – who tweeted that "football belongs to the fans" – made that approval impossible.
With the proposal now dead, the focus shifts to the upcoming FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2025 in Rabat, Morocco. Infantino, who had previously counted on the support of more than 200 of FIFA’s 211 members, now faces a potential erosion of that backing.
The FA’s statement of "deep concern" and the open calls for alternative candidates suggest that the field could open up before the November 18 deadline for nominations. Potential challengers mentioned in the media include Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who finished second in the 2016 FIFA presidential vote, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, whose vision for football governance starkly contrasts with Infantino’s. While none of these figures have formally declared candidacy, the growing discontent within the football community could encourage one or more of them to step forward.
In the meantime, Infantino must explain his actions to a broad audience: the FIFA Council, confederation presidents, federation executives, the investors who were quietly courted, and even political figures who have weighed in. The episode has already been described by pundits as a "desperate attempt to keep his job" and a "failed scheme that damaged his reputation beyond repair." The situation also raises broader questions about the future of football’s financial model.
UEFA’s statement that the idle $5 billion in FIFA’s bank could be redirected to grassroots projects without selling off "family silver" underscores a growing consensus that the sport’s wealth should be reinvested rather than monetised through private deals. As the drama unfolds, the football world watches to see whether Infantino can salvage his presidency or whether a new leader will emerge to steer FIFA toward greater transparency, accountability and a renewed focus on the global development of the beautiful game.