FIFA hit by furious backlash over plans to sell stake in competitions

There was a furious backlash on Wednesday to FIFA's controversial plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a private subsidiary.

World football's governing body had said Tuesday that it would retain a majority share in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) but hoped to raise USD4.2bn later this year by "carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests".

Various media outlets reported on Wednesday that FIFA president Gianni Infantino had sent a letter to the associations saying that they will each receive USD40m if they back the plan -- but they must sign up by 19 September.

"In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of 1 January, 2027, each member association will have the possibility of access up to USD40m per member association under this proposal," said Infantino.

The Times -- which broke the original story on Tuesday -- said that sources opposed to the plan had labelled it "pure bribery".

UEFA had issued a blunt statement regarding the plan and was due to hold an emergency meeting later on Wednesday according to France's sports minister.

"Many in European football see FIFA's plans as an outright attack on football. I share this view. A line has been crossed here," Hans-Joachim Watzke, a vice-president of UEFA's executive committee, told Germany's Kicker.

The Times reported Infantino, 56, stood to profit from the scheme by becoming commissioner of the FFE after his expected next term expires in 2031. FIFA denied that this had been discussed.

The article also said that discussion had started with financial advisors and potential investors.

Those include Thrive capital, an investment company founded and led by Joshua Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared, as well as an arm of JP Morgan Chase, the US bank that attempted to finance the failed breakaway European Super League.

UEFA, which has regularly criticised Infantino, said that the plan "crosses a line".

"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."

The European Union made no bones about their disdain for the plan.

"Hands off our game," Glenn Micallef, the EU commissioner for Sport, posted on X.

CONCACAF, which governs North and Central American football, said that it was "deeply concerned by the lack of due process".

The Asian Football Confederation said that it was "disappointed" it had not been consulted.

The plan would still have to be approved by the 38-member FIFA council and the majority of its 211 member associations (MAs). FIFA said that it intends to present the plans to the council soon.

'Further expanded'

FIFA said in its statement that it "would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions".

It said that it believed FFE would achieve an "initial equity valuation of USD20bn".

FIFA said that each of its MAs would be given the chance to take a one-off stake of USD20m in FFE.

That represents only 0.1% of the total, but would be a significant sum for the leaderships of FIFA's poorer or smaller members.

UK Prime Minister and avid football fan Andy Burnham decried the plan.

"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," he wrote on social media.

In June, ahead of the World Cup, FIFA, which folds competition income into revenue for the whole year, anticipated record revenues exceeding seven billion euros (USD8bn) for 2026.

It was the first World Cup with 48 teams and there is talk of further expanding it to 64.

The Times quoted an unnamed "senior football figure" calling the plan "potentially much worse than the European Super League", as it would have an impact on all levels of football across the globe.

In 2019, a FIFA stakeholders' committee rejected an Infantino-backed plan for a USD25bn private investment in an expanded Club World Cup. Reported backers included SoftBank of Japan and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

FIFA did expand that competition from seven teams to 32 clubs in 2025.

The Times speculated that the creation of FFE could have an impact on the World Cup and the Club World Cup.

"It could lead to pressure for both events to be further expanded or played more regularly than the present once every four years," it wrote.