Fifa president Gianni Infantino is pursuing a plan to sell stakes in the organisation’s football competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors, BBC Sport reports.
The proposal is being presented by Infantino as a way to broaden the benefits of football finance. According to the report, Fifa countries would receive $40m (£30m) to develop the game once the deal is completed. Federations have been given until 19 September to accept the plans if they want access to an initial $20m (£15m).
The move has prompted strong criticism from fans, politicians and regional governing bodies. BBC Sport reports that the investment fund involved, Thrive Capital, is led by Josh Kushner, the brother-in-law of Ivanka Trump, while Greg Maffei, a former Liberty Media executive who has donated to Donald Trump’s political campaigns, is acting as a key commercial adviser to Fifa.
Infantino is said to have significant support among Fifa’s 211 member associations, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Americas, where countries have benefited from funding programmes and other policies introduced during his presidency. Fifa votes require a simple majority, meaning backing from more than half of members would be enough for the proposal to pass.
In a letter to member countries cited by BBC Sport, Infantino said the decision on whether to proceed belonged to them, adding: “In exchange, all that is required is your trust - everything else remains the same.”
Critics have raised concerns about the long-term consequences of allowing private investors to share in future revenues from competitions that are expected to keep growing in value. Fifa is a non-profit organisation under Swiss law, and BBC Sport notes that the arrangement would mean outside investors benefiting from future growth alongside, rather than solely within, football.
Miguel Maduro, a former chairman of Fifa’s governance committee, told BBC Sport that past concerns about how some federations spend money raise doubts about whether funding reaches the levels of football Fifa promises. He also described Fifa as operating through “a system of patronage”. BBC Sport said it had contacted Fifa for comment on his assessment.
The proposal has also intensified tensions with Uefa. The European governing body said on Tuesday that Fifa’s plan was “to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends”. BBC Sport reports that many Uefa members are angry and that a meeting is expected to discuss a response.
Reports cited by BBC Sport have suggested a possible World Cup boycott by European nations, though the article says the chances of that happening are uncertain. Europe is due to play a major role in hosting the 2030 men’s World Cup, with Spain and Portugal staging most matches alongside Morocco.
