FIFA President Infantino Withdraws Private Investment Plan Following Global Backlash

Gianni Infantino, the president of world football's governing body FIFA, has scrapped a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, a proposal that drew intense criticism from football confederations across Asia, Europe, and North America.

The decision, announced early Saturday, comes after a week of mounting pressure that saw Infantino's senior adviser resign and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) join UEFA and Concacaf in opposing the plan. The proposal had envisioned creating a subsidiary worth €17 billion (or $20 billion) to manage FIFA's commercial assets, with 20 percent owned by private investors, reportedly including the Kushner family, who have ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump.

"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 in a statement. "Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

UEFA and Concacaf Voice No-Confidence

The strongest reaction came from UEFA, the European governing body, which issued a blistering statement hours after FIFA withdrew the plan. UEFA's president, Aleksander Čeferin, who has led the opposition to Infantino's proposal, said, "No option should be off the table." UEFA added, "The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family."

In a separate statement, Concacaf, the governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer, called for a "full review" of FIFA's leadership, describing the proposal as "a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first." Concacaf's statement said, "This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour."

The AFC also opposed the plan, with its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, welcoming Infantino's decision. "The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game," he said.

Football Australia chairman Anter Isaac echoed Al-Khalifa, saying, "Some principles, however, should never change. Integrity. Independence. Good governance. Transparency. Meaningful consultation. Due process."

Resignations and Escalating Pressure

The proposal had already begun to unravel on Thursday when UEFA's 55 member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions if Infantino proceeded with the plan. That threat was followed by the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino's senior adviser, who had sat on a White House panel. FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, also issued a statement saying the project must not continue.

FIFA chiefs have criticized the media for "misreporting" the plans, but the backlash has been relentless. The Qatar Football Association issued a statement in support of Infantino, but the damage to his position appears significant.

What's Next?

Infantino's position as FIFA president is now under threat, with some suggesting that the current crisis represents the best chance yet to remove him from office. Possible outcomes include Infantino resigning, as his predecessor Sepp Blatter did in 2015, or facing a challenge at the next FIFA Council meeting, which can be triggered if 19 of the 37 council members call for an emergency session.

UEFA's statement concluded, "We must identify those responsible and hold them to account. It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, there will be a full review of this leadership."

As the football world absorbs this dramatic turn, one thing is clear: the battle over the future of FIFA's leadership is far from over.