Fifa president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell chunks of the World Cup to private investors, announced on Tuesday nine days after the final, has sent shock waves through football. National associations have until 19 September to decide whether to accept an initial $20m payment that would effectively endorse the scheme.
Uefa Leads Criticism
Uefa responded swiftly, stating that the plan "crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross." This echoes a previous Uefa statement from July 6, which said the shelving of Folarin Balogun's suspension "crossed a red line." The English FA also joined the criticism.
Infantino's Strong Support Base
More than 200 of Fifa's 211 members have submitted letters supporting Infantino's re-election. Most resisters are from Europe, with Germany as the highest-profile holdout. Finland's FA president Ari Lahti said his country aimed "not to be an eyesore" by refusing to back Infantino.
Any talk of boycotting future World Cups is complicated by Fifa statutes requiring member participation. The most radical step would be a withdrawal from Fifa and creation of a new governance model.
Uefa's Position and Next Steps
Uefa's relationship with the European Football Clubs (EFC) adds complexity; EFC wants a joint venture with Fifa for the Club World Cup. However, EFC's proposal does not involve private capital. To tackle Infantino, European football must present a united front or back a serious electoral opponent for the 2025 Fifa presidency.
The Danish FA responded by emphasizing the need to "gain a complete understanding of the proposal and the process behind it." Critics fear this may lead to procrastination. European leadership is needed now more than ever to preserve football's integrity.
