(Credit - FIFA)
FIFA Apologises for World Cup Privatisation Plan, Reaffirms Support for Infantino
FIFA’s leadership has apologised for errors surrounding a leaked proposal to open the World Cup to private investment, which was valued at $20 billion. The proposal, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was scrapped after fierce backlash from European governing body UEFA, who threatened to boycott the World Cup. FIFA’s leadership reaffirmed their full support for President Gianni Infantino, who has come under increasing pressure over his handling of the proposal.
FIFA’s Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board met in Rabat, Morocco, to address the controversy, stating that “errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media”. The proposal aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion and provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million. However, the plan was met with severe criticism, with UEFA resorting to the threat of boycotting the World Cup, prompting Infantino to withdraw the plan.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) was proposed to run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup, but the plan ultimately produced a furious backlash. Infantino stated that “our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve”, and the organisation has since scrapped the private investment plan.
This development follows a prior controversy surrounding FIFA’s handling of the World Cup, where UEFA‘s governing body had expressed concerns over the organisation’s decision-making process. The scrapped privatisation plan has brought attention to the organisation’s transparency and accountability, with many calling for increased oversight and reform.
