EUROPEAN countries could BOYCOTT the World Cup if Gianni Infantino’s plan to flog a chunk of Fifa goes ahead.
It emerged on Tuesday that Fifa are plotting to launch, and sell stakes in, a sister company that will preside over the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Selling off up to 20 per cent in a new Fifa Forward Enterprise could raise world football’s governing body more than £3billion from private investors, with plans having already received staunch opposition from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Infantino, 56, would stand to make substantial sums in bonuses should the plan be successful – while he could also then move into a “commissioner” role worth tens of millions with the new subsidiary once his final Fifa term comes to a mandatory end in 2031.
Uefa have already penned a furious response to the plans, with a statement reading: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. Uefa takes it extremely seriously.
“So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell.”
According to Sky News, Uefa nations are set to discuss a World Cup boycott in opposition to Fifa’s plans.
Member associations will meet virtually for an emergency summit this week, with a possible boycott on the agenda.
SunSport can confirm that the FA were not previously aware of Fifa’s plans.
Various football associations met with Fifa on the eve of the World Cup final earlier this month, but these plans were not discussed.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has already been critical of Infantino’s Fifa in recent weeks.
He expressed his fury at Folarin Balogun‘s red card suspension being lifted during the World Cup, following a conversation between the Fifa president and Donald Trump.
Ceferin had attended the tournament’s opener, notably in Mexico, but opted to snub the final.
There is also a Trump connection with regards to the Fifa Forward Enterprise project.
Thrive Capital is understood to be the leading bidder, with its CEO Joshua Kushner the younger brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Infantino has responded to criticism, insisting that the plans will allow Fifa to offer more funding to member associations.
The under-fire president said: “Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world.
“Every Fifa Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.”
Opposing the plans, UK PM Burnham wrote on X: “Let me say this very directly.
“Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.
“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.
“Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”
Ex-Liverpool player Stan Collymore suggested Uefa should split from Fifa, adding: “Uefa’s power base is 10, 20, 1,000 times more.
“It’s where all the players, storied clubs, monster crowds, greatest coaches, referees and sheer size of football infrastructure is.”
Gary Lineker reposted the BBC’s Instagram story with the comment “Nothing surprises me any more” and a vomit emoji.
It’s claimed that member associations will have access to $20m (£15m) in funding between 2027 and 2030 – an increase from the current $8m (£6m).
Fifa’s World Cup sell-off plan
- Fifa would set up a firm for the “operational delivery of Fifa tournaments” called Fifa Forward Enterprise, which will effectively control the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cup
- Fifa would then own the majority share in the company — but investors could purchase 20 to 30 per cent which could amount to billions of dollars
- Each of Fifa’s 211 member associations would also be given a stake worth approximately £15m which they could keep or sell
- Infantino would then be in line to run the company after he steps down as head of Fifa
- One proposed investor is Joshua Kushner — a younger brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner
Next year there is a Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in Brazil.
Then there is a Club World Cup scheduled for 2029, although a host nation has not yet been decided.
The next men’s World Cup will go ahead across Spain, Portugal and Morocco – plus Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay for one match each – in four years.
Even if Uefa nations all oppose Fifa’s plans, Infantino and Co only need to receive a majority vote from their 211 member associations worldwide in order to press ahead with their project.
But a full Uefa boycott would cause significant issues for Fifa, given European football’s strength and support.
The 2022-2026 World Cup cycle is said to have pocketed Fifa £11.3BN in its current format.
In a further bid to increase revenue even more, it is expected that the World Cup will eventually expand again, this time to 64 teams.
There are also fears the new proposal could see pressure to stage the tournament more than once every four years.
The controversial president, for his part, can point to the huge revenues Fifa have generated since his time at the helm over the past ten years to explain his popularity.
And if this shameful scheme is to get the green light, it will require the majority support of Fifa’s 211 member associations and the governing body’s Council.
There are a few reasons – well, actually, a million or so reasons – why they could be on board with them.
