FIFA has abandoned its controversial proposal to allow private investors to buy stakes in its major football competitions, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups, following strong opposition from football governing bodies across the world.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the decision in a statement, saying the plan would no longer move forward because it had become a source of division within global football.
“It has become clear that this proposal has created divisions that are no longer in the interest of its original objective,” Infantino said.
“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
The proposal would have seen FIFA establish a new commercial subsidiary to manage its biggest tournaments while allowing outside investors to purchase minority, non-controlling stakes in the business. FIFA argued that the initiative would generate more revenue for football development and increase financial support for its 211 member associations.
As part of the proposal, member associations were promised up to $40 million if they backed the plan, with an initial payment of $20 million available before a September deadline.
However, the proposal quickly led to widespread criticism from several football confederations, who argued that FIFA’s flagship competitions should not be opened to private investment.
UEFA led the resistance by warning that its members could boycott future World Cups if the proposal was approved. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) also rejected the plan, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) declared its solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf.
With those three confederations controlling enough votes to block the proposal at a FIFA Congress, the chances of the plan succeeding became increasingly slim.
The controversy also led to internal crisis within FIFA. Carlos Cordeiro, one of Infantino’s senior advisers on global strategy and governance, resigned over the proposal, describing it as “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”
FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also criticised the process, saying the organisation’s own administration had been “deceived” about the project and describing it as “the project of one person.”
Despite initially insisting that “nobody is selling football,” FIFA eventually reversed course after opposition continued to grow.
Infantino said the governing body would now focus on rebuilding trust and working more closely with football stakeholders.
“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve,” he said.
“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.”
AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the proposal, saying football’s future should always be determined through consultation and respect for existing governance structures.
The failed proposal has also increased pressure on Infantino as he prepares to seek a fourth term as FIFA president at the organisation’s Congress in Morocco next March. Although he had previously been expected to secure another term without significant opposition, recent events have raised fresh questions about his leadership and his relationship with football’s major governing bodies.
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