Infantino backs off investment project... UEFA escalates: We have lost confidence in FIFA's leadership

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reversed course yesterday on a plan to open the world’s top football governing body to private-sector investors, following widespread criticism and concerns that the move would turn the sport into a commodity amid allegations of conflicts of interest.

In a statement, Infantino said, “After carefully listening to all viewpoints, it has become clear that the project has created divisions that no longer serve the fundamental purpose for which it was launched.”

The FIFA president’s retreat comes as he faces additional pressure following the recent resignation of his chief advisor, Carlos Cordeiro. Infantino added, “Our goal has always been, and will always be, to unite and move the game forward. Therefore, this proposal will not be adopted.”

Last Tuesday, FIFA unexpectedly unveiled a plan aimed at raising football development funding to $10 billion over the next four years. However, the initiative was met with sharp criticism regarding both its content and the manner in which it was presented.

Infantino had intended to establish a company named “FIFA Forward Enterprise,” which would be open to private investors and responsible for managing FIFA’s commercial activities and major events. The project raised widespread concerns that it would undermine the nature of football competitions and reduce the sport to a purely commercial enterprise.

In response to the decision, UEFA stated that Infantino had lost the “trust of European football,” despite his withdrawal of the plan that would have allowed private investors to acquire ownership stakes in World Cup-related commercial activities, following a wave of global rejection.

UEFA’s statement read: “The current FIFA leadership has not only lost the trust of UEFA but also the trust of many other parties within the football family.”

While UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the proposal, which had been unanimously rejected alongside other continental federations “whose mission is to protect football,” it did not soften its criticism of Infantino. The statement noted that the 56-year-old had broken promises made during his 2016 presidential campaign, particularly regarding “transparency” and the assurance that “FIFA’s money is the money of the member associations, not the money of the FIFA President,” adding, “He has failed to keep these two promises.”

It continued, “The opaque deal, orchestrated behind closed doors and attempted to be imposed, was far from transparent.” The statement further pointed out that “with financial reserves exceeding $5 billion, he has also failed to use the member associations’ money in a way that serves the interests of the game.”

Last Thursday, UEFA had threatened, unanimously, not to participate in future FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if the international federation did not withdraw the project.

On his part, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa welcomed the withdrawal of the proposal, calling for greater “transparency” in the future when presenting initiatives of this scale.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), which comprises 41 national associations, had announced its “rejection of the proposal.” In contrast, the African and Oceania confederations took a less hardline stance, urging member associations to “study” and “evaluate” the project. Meanwhile, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) called for further clarification, emphasizing the need to “always place football above any other interest.”