FIFA president Gianni Infantino has officially scrapped his contentious proposal to sell a share of future World Cup revenues to private‑equity investors after intense pushback from the sport’s governing bodies. While the withdrawal marks a tactical retreat for Infantino, UEFA has simultaneously announced that it no longer trusts his leadership, a stance that has been echoed by the English Football Association and other national federations.
The original plan, unveiled on a Tuesday, was to launch an initiative called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The scheme would have bundled the commercial rights of FIFA—broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing—into a single package that could be sold to external investors.
Infantino gave the world’s football associations a deadline of September 19 to endorse the sale, sweetening the offer with a £30.1 million incentive for those who voted in favour. From the outset, the proposal attracted fierce criticism from UEFA, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Even British Prime Minister Andy Burnham weighed in, urging FIFA to conduct an urgent governance review and describing the retreat as “the right decision” during a Sky News interview on Saturday.
In a statement released in the early hours of Saturday, Infantino explained the rationale behind the aborted project: “The FIFA Forward Enterprise was designed to create a stronger foundation for our member associations and to support football in the regions that need it most. It was always intended to move forward only with a clear majority of associations behind it and after a thorough consultation with the FIFA Council, the confederations and other key stakeholders.” He went on to say that, after listening to the feedback, it had become evident that the plan was creating divisions that were counter‑productive to its original purpose.
“Our mission has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve the game,” he added, announcing that the proposal would not proceed and that he intended to reconvene all parties in the coming weeks to refocus on growth, especially in under‑served nations. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the AFC, welcomed the decision on the AFC’s website, stressing that any initiative with the potential to reshape global football must be discussed transparently with the council, confederations, member associations and other stakeholders. He highlighted the importance of collective dialogue and respect for established governance structures when shaping the sport’s future.
Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol summed up the sentiment from many quarters: “We have passed the tipping point and are approaching game over for Gianni Infantino. This whole disaster has been self‑inflicted. There was no need for him to be in the situation he finds himself in today. He is now losing all his authority and his power.” Solhekol noted that while UEFA and other bodies have not explicitly called for Infantino’s resignation, their statements imply that his tenure is under serious threat and that no option is being ruled out.
UEFA’s official response praised FIFA’s reversal and promised to work with partners and stakeholders to prevent any similar fast‑track schemes in the future. The UEFA statement read: “We thank the fans, leagues, clubs, players, associations and confederations that opposed the scheme, as well as the many prime ministers, heads of state and commentators who have shown the FIFA president that football is not for sale. We cannot continue with secret, rapid‑track deals cooked up by faceless individuals that offer dubious benefits to the game. Those responsible must be identified and held to account.” The body pledged a comprehensive review of the episode, stating that the current FIFA leadership has lost the confidence of UEFA and many other members of the football family.
The English Football Association (FA) echoed UEFA’s position, issuing a statement that read: “We fully support UEFA’s stance. It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations, with the long‑term stewardship of football at its heart.” The Football Association of Wales (FAW) also voiced its backing, emphasizing that FIFA and its members are custodians of the sport and must prioritize its sustainable growth. The controversy intensified after senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling 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, “As a former banker and lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup.
I had no involvement in this proposal and I oppose it unequivocally.” Kevin Lamour, FIFA’s chief operating officer, also criticised the lack of openness, telling the Associated Press that staff felt “deceived” and deserved “better than contempt and intimidation.” Lamour described the World Cup plan as “the project of one person” and urged football leaders to act. Under the original FFE proposal, FIFA aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion (£3.1 billion) from external investors by selling minority, non‑controlling stakes in a $20 billion‑valued enterprise.
The money was projected to fund more than $10 billion in football development programmes over four years, pending approval from member associations. Despite the collapse of the plan, speculation continues about who might succeed Infantino should he step down. Some commentators mention Nasser Al‑Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint‑Germain and a UEFA executive committee member, though he has reportedly shown no interest in the role. Others point to Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who finished second in the 2016 FIFA presidential election, and Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, both of whom have publicly opposed the sell‑off.
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA president, is also cited as a potential candidate with a markedly different vision for football governance, though he has not expressed any desire to take the FIFA helm. In summary, the episode has exposed deep fractures within football’s power structures. While Infantino’s retreat may calm the immediate storm, the calls for a thorough governance overhaul, greater transparency and a re‑evaluation of how FIFA allocates its massive reserves—estimated at over $5 billion—are likely to persist.
The next few weeks will be crucial as UEFA, the FA, the AFC and other stakeholders convene to chart a path forward, aiming to restore trust, protect the integrity of the sport and ensure that future revenue streams are used to develop football at the grassroots level rather than being packaged for private profit.