FIFA's plan to sell the World Cup has been scrapped less than four days after it was announced, following an immediate backlash from supporters, governing federations and even Gianni Infantino's closest advisors. The FIFA president confirmed the cancellation in a statement released early Saturday morning.
Infantino had unveiled the plan on Thursday. The reaction was instant, with football making clear it did not want the proposal. In his statement, Infantino said the plan would not proceed. "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place. As a result, this proposal will not proceed."
Pressure from all sides
The U-turn came after threats of boycotts from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, as well as the resignation of senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro.
UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister said: "He had to be pushed into that corner and that is regrettable of course, but I think it showed the unity of football when we face such an existential crisis."
McAllister added: "But it really shouldn't have come to this, I think most of us believe this was a hugely misguided and potentially catastrophic proposal and it should never have been put on the table. I am delighted we were able to fight it off."
Echoes of the European Super League
It is not the first time fan power has forced football governance to change course. In 2021, the European Super League was confirmed on April 18 with 20 of Europe's biggest clubs involved. The backlash was instant, with protests outside stadiums, UK Government opposition and even Infantino voicing his own objection.
Players and managers including Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson criticised the plan. UEFA and FIFA tried to intervene, while the Super League organisers threatened legal action.
Manchester City became the first club to pull out, just 56 hours after the announcement, and were followed by all Premier League rivals. The Super League collapsed within days.
A warning for Infantino
Infantino's plan has now been unpicked in less than a week. In an age where the game seems to be moving away from the ordinary supporter – as seen in the sky-high prices of this summer's World Cup – it is a reminder that fans can still have an impact.
The defeat leaves Infantino in an untenable position. Whether he can relinquish his power at the top of FIFA remains to be seen. If football fans want him gone, he should not underestimate their opinion – he too could end up lasting days.
