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World football has united in rare fashion after FIFA president Gianni Infantino\u2019s controversial proposal to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup sparked an extraordinary global backlash, with Europe confirming it will boycott the sport\u2019s biggest tournament if the plan proceeds.<\/p>\n
The proposal would see FIFA sell a minority stake in a newly created commercial entity responsible for the World Cup and other major tournaments, with the organisation valuing the business at around US$20 billion.<\/p>\n
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Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n The governing body says the investment would raise billions to fund football development around the world while allowing FIFA to retain control of the sport.<\/p>\n According to multiple reports, Thrive Capital founder Joshua Kushner \u2013 the brother of Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner \u2013 is expected to lead the investment group backing the proposal.<\/p>\n The World Cup is already the most profitable sporting competition on the planet, generating more than US$2 billion in profit from its most recent edition.<\/p>\n Yet FIFA is seeking further commercial investment, reportedly giving its 211 member associations just 53 days to vote on the proposal while informing them each federation would receive around US$20 million in development funding should the deal be approved.<\/p>\n Few journalists have covered the story more closely than The Times\u2019<\/a> chief sports reporter Martin Ziegler, who was among the first to reveal FIFA\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n In the wake of the extraordinary backlash, Ziegler wrote that Infantino had \u201copened Pandora\u2019s box, flew too close to the sun, jumped the shark and just about every other idiom in the book.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe only question is how, or if, Infantino can extricate himself from a mess of his own making,\u201d Ziegler wrote.<\/p>\n Hellas produce an all-time CUPSET | 01:00<\/p>\n He added that the FIFA president had \u201cclearly totally underestimated the reaction his proposal, drawn up in secret using connections in the United States close to Donald Trump\u2019s network, would provoke\u201d.<\/p>\n No publication captured the mood more bluntly than The Telegraph\u2019s Sports<\/a> Investigations Reporter, Ben Rumsby, who described the proposal as \u201ccomically deranged\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know the World Cup is the most profitable sporting entity on the planet,\u201d the publication wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Infantino \u2013 a man who, by comparison, makes his predecessor Sepp Blatter look a byword for decency and integrity \u2013 wanted more.<\/p>\n \u201cNever mind that this last iteration made more than $2bn profit, he set his sights on becoming the Elon Musk of football administration.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE FIFA NEWS<\/b><\/p>\n \u2018PURE BRIBERY\u2019: Football Australia breaks silence on $40m World Cup shakedown<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n FIFA\u2019s $29bn bombshell promises a huge slice for Australia: It could destroy the World Cup<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018NOT YOURS TO SELL\u2019: WC plunged into turmoil over FIFA \u2018nuclear bomb\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018STAIN ON FOOTBALL\u2019: FIFA boss attacks WC critics in \u2018world class tantrum\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \u2018THE WORLD CUP IS NOT FOR SALE\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n It cannot always be said that Europe\u2019s football associations stand united. But there wasn\u2019t a single voice of opposition during one of the most extraordinary meetings ever held between UEFA\u2019s 55 member nations.<\/p>\n So many delegates wanted to have their say on Infantino\u2019s proposal that an emergency summit scheduled for one hour lasted more than twice as long.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than 30 federations actually spoke,\u201d one attendee told The Telegraph.<\/p>\n The Independent\u2019s<\/a> Miguel Delaney revealed just how remarkable the meeting became, reporting that UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin opened proceedings with a simple message that would echo throughout the next two hours.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Delaney, Ceferin stressed the dispute \u201cisn\u2019t about him and Gianni\u201d and insisted he had never wanted a fight with FIFA before arguing the governing body already had all the money it would ever need.<\/p>\n The emergency meeting concluded with UEFA\u2019s 55 member associations unanimously agreeing to a statement rejecting FIFA\u2019s proposal in the strongest possible terms.<\/p>\n \u201cThe World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is one of football\u2019s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.<\/p>\n \u201cThe World Cup is not for sale.\u201d<\/p>\n Co-signed by every European football association, including England\u2019s Football Association, the statement accused FIFA of \u201ca profound failure of leadership\u201d and criticised what it described as \u201cgovernance by intimidation\u201d.<\/p>\n UEFA also labelled FIFA\u2019s attempts to progress the proposal without meaningful consultation as both \u201cirresponsible\u201d and \u201cindefensible\u201d.<\/p>\n According to Delaney, England FA chair and FIFA vice-president Debbie Hewitt was the next major figure to speak, becoming the first official to raise the prospect of a boycott while criticising governance under Infantino\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n Spurs WIN down under on penalties | 01:30<\/p>\n The proposed boycott would apply to all FIFA competitions, not just the World Cup, significantly increasing the pressure on Infantino given much of FIFA\u2019s commercial strategy is built around the value of European football.<\/p>\n Numerous officials at the meeting also questioned Infantino\u2019s leadership, with his conduct described as everything from \u201cdictatorship behaviour\u201d to \u201cnot what you\u2019d expect from a true leader\u201d.<\/p>\n FIFA Executive Committee member Razvan Burleanu reportedly directly blamed Infantino for the crisis, while Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney questioned whether member associations could continue to have faith in the FIFA president despite acknowledging federations still required greater financial support.<\/p>\n According to The Telegraph\u2019s Ben Rumsby, discussions then shifted to what insiders described as the \u201cnuclear option\u201d, a coordinated boycott of FIFA competitions should the proposal proceed.<\/p>\n One attendee said: \u201cEveryone was clear that this thing was not in the best interests of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Another added: \u201cTo use this as a way to try to enrich people is a bit scary.\u201d<\/p>\n Even Czech Republic football president David Trunda, who had spoken positively about elements of FIFA\u2019s proposal only a day earlier, did not defend it during the meeting.<\/p>\n The publication noted it would require only football\u2019s commercial heavyweights \u2013 England, Germany, Spain, France and Italy \u2013 to refuse to participate for the future of the World Cup to be thrown into turmoil.<\/p>\n OPPOSITION SPREADS<\/b><\/p>\n Europe was far from alone.<\/p>\n CONCACAF\u2019s 41 member associations also rejected the proposal, while the Asian Football Confederation warned FIFA\u2019s plans risked \u201cundermining the very foundations of football\u201d.<\/p>\n According to The Athletic\u2019s<\/a> Adam Crafton, one source familiar with the CONCACAF meeting said member associations were rapidly losing confidence in Infantino\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n \u201cThe feeling and discussion expressed among the vast majority of CONCACAF members was that they are losing confidence, or have lost confidence altogether, in Gianni Infantino as FIFA president.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018GO, GIANNI, GO!\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n