‘FIFA not for sale’: UEFA slams Infantino’s $20bn World Cup plan, says ‘None of us own football’

File Pic: FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, with US President Donald Trump. (AP photo) UEFA launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s ambitious proposal to create a $20 billion commercial company to manage the World Cup and other major tournaments, saying soccer’s governing bodies had crossed a dangerous line.The European soccer body reacted strongly after FIFA officially unveiled plans for the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new entity that would seek up to $4.2 billion from private investors in exchange for a minority, non-controlling stake in the business, which has been valued at $20 billion.The proposal immediately raised concerns about the future ownership and governance of football, with UEFA questioning the transparency of the project and warning against the commercialization of the sport’s biggest competitions.

“FIFA is nothing to sell”

In an unusually blunt statement, UEFA made its opposition crystal clear.“FIFA is not for sale,” the governing body said, according to an AP report. “None of us owns the football.The organization also warned that the proposal threatened the long-term governance of the game.“The soul and management of football are not assets to be traded – especially with zero transparency as to who will gain financially,” UEFA said in response to reports of FIFA selling stakes linked to its competitions.UEFA described the development as deeply worrying, adding that it was taking the news “extremely seriously. So should every national football association.”The statement ended with another stark warning: “This crosses a line that should never be crossed by football’s governing bodies.”UEFA represents 55 national associations, making it one of FIFA’s most influential confederations.

FIFA defends investment plan

FIFA, meanwhile, has insisted the project is designed to strengthen global football rather than privatize it.According to the governing body, the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise would oversee competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the Club World Cup, while raising fresh capital from carefully selected long-term investors.Investment bank JP Morgan is working with FIFA on the project, with potential investors reportedly including Thrive Eternal, which was started by Joshua Kushner. Joshua is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, further fueling scrutiny of FIFA’s political and business ties.FIFA said its 211 member associations would have to approve the proposal and could each receive up to $20 million in one-time capital if the plan is accepted.Defending the initiative, Infantino said: “It’s about democratizing football around the world.”

Echoes of the failed 2018 FIFA proposal

This is not the first time Infantino has attempted to bring private investment into FIFA competitions.In 2018, he proposed a $25 billion confidential partnership backed by Japan’s SoftBank to launch new global tournaments, including an expanded Club World Cup. The proposal eventually collapsed after fierce opposition from UEFA, who feared it would undermine the Champions League and European Championship.Despite this setback, Infantino later expanded the Club World Cup and strengthened FIFA’s commercial ties with Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.