Infantino plan collapses as FIFA halts World Cup privatisation bid | OneFootball

FIFA has scrapped Gianni Infantino's contentious bid to open the World Cup to private investors after a global backlash. The governing body said in a statement the proposal would not proceed.

Infantino unveiled the plan on Tuesday, then reversed course in the early hours of Saturday in Spain. A threatened European boycott left the project untenable.

The scheme sought a 20 billion dollar commercial vehicle to run the World Cup alongside private investors close to Donald Trump's family and JP Morgan. It also envisaged handing 30% of men's and women's World Cup rights to private companies.

Resistance intensified by the hour. Conmebol demanded further detail and insisted football must come first, while Europe's 55 federations delivered a firm rejection.

The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was presented as a way to strengthen member associations and the sport worldwide, especially where support is most needed, and would only advance with majority backing after consultation. After hearing views, FIFA concluded the plan had created damaging divisions and dropped it.

Infantino had given the 211 associations just over 50 days to decide whether to accept 53 million dollars each in return for support. He now intends to convene stakeholders in the coming days and weeks to keep driving the game, particularly in countries that need help most.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo