FIFA has officially abandoned its controversial proposal to sell private investment stakes in future FIFA World Cup tournaments after fierce opposition from football federations, confederations and stakeholders across the game.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed on Friday that the governing body had withdrawn the proposal, admitting the plan had become too divisive despite its original objective of generating more funds for football development.
“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,” Infantino said. “Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
The now abandoned proposal was unveiled on Tuesday when FIFA announced plans to establish a separate subsidiary that would manage the commercial and operational rights of the World Cup. The new company was expected to include private equity investors who would acquire stakes in the business.
FIFA argued that the investment would generate additional revenue, which would then be reinvested into football development worldwide. However, the announcement immediately sparked widespread criticism across the global football community.
UEFA led the opposition, warning that the proposal threatened the “soul and governance” of football. The European governing body even threatened to boycott future men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups if the plan moved forward.
The backlash quickly spread beyond Europe. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football and the Asian Football Confederation also rejected the proposal, although both stopped short of supporting a boycott. Meanwhile, the Oceania Football Confederation said its executive committee would review the issue during its August meeting.
With pressure mounting from across world football, Infantino acknowledged that unity had become the priority.
“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,” the FIFA president added.
The proposal also triggered unrest within FIFA itself.
Earlier on Friday, Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, distancing himself completely from the initiative.
“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup. Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. … It is a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game,” Cordeiro said.
FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour also publicly criticized the proposal, describing it as the vision of a single individual rather than a collective decision.
“It is the project of one person,” Lamour said in a statement to The Associated Press.
He further urged football’s leadership to reconsider the direction of the governing body.
“Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”
Lamour also accepted that speaking out could cost him his position.
“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.”
Infantino’s decision to scrap the proposal ends one of the most controversial episodes of his presidency, with FIFA now expected to focus on rebuilding relationships with its member associations and confederations after intense global resistance forced the governing body into a swift policy reversal.
