Infantino’s FIFA crisis: What is reaction to World Cup investment U-turn?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino withdrew plans to sell minority stakes in the World Cup and other events to private investors following widespread global backlash. Multiple football governing bodies, including UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation, expressed loss of confidence in FIFA's leadership and called for improved governance and consultation processes.
FIFA has reversed its controversial proposal to bring private investment into World Cup competitions and other major football events. The plan, announced earlier in the week by President Gianni Infantino, faced immediate and substantial opposition from football's governing bodies worldwide.
European football's governing body UEFA stated that the current FIFA leadership had lost not only its confidence but also that of many other members of the football community. UEFA committed to working with partners and stakeholders to propose alternative resource distribution methods through existing FIFA programmes.
The Asian Football Confederation, represented by its president Sheikh Salman, emphasized that global football's future must be shaped through proper consultation and respect for established governance structures. The confederation expressed readiness to support initiatives that strengthen football's unity and deliver benefits to all stakeholders.
Other football bodies delivered similarly critical responses. The Dutch football association noted that the withdrawal did not resolve underlying concerns, citing a fundamental breach of trust in Infantino's leadership. Belgium's football federation welcomed the decision but raised ongoing concerns about transparency and governance deficiencies in how football should be developed and managed.
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