Gianni Infantino World Cup sell-off plan review to be presented to Fifa Council

Fifa Council to Review Infantino's Controversial World Cup Sell-Off Plan

The Independent Sport•
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Summary

Fifa has confirmed it will present a review of the abandoned FFE initiative to the world football body’s council, prompted by complaints from Danish football head Jesper Moller regarding a lack of details on the cancelled scheme.

Moller expressed frustration last week when Fifa declined to address what he described as "critical questions" during a Legal Committee session. The controversy revolves around a now-shelved project initiated by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, which aimed to sell commercial shares in major tournaments to external financiers.

In a statement to Reuters, Fifa stated:

Fifa Standing Committees advise and assist the Fifa Council in their respective fields in line with Fifa's Statutes and Governance Regulations. The organization added:
As previously communicated, a review of the withdrawn Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal will be presented to the Fifa Council.

The Council comprises 37 delegates, including president Infantino, eight vice-presidents, and 28 representatives from member associations worldwide.

Widespread opposition emerged after Infantino proposed selling a 20 percent share in the World Cup and other competitions. Key confederations such as Uefa, the AFC, and Concacaf demanded reforms to the governance framework, while discussions about a potential vote of no confidence against Infantino took place.

A growing number of European bodies have withdrawn their support for Infantino's re-election campaign. Recently, Greek Football Association President Makis Gagatsis and former Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff joined Uefa's call for administrative reform, strengthening opposition across Europe.

Despite the increasing pressure, sources informed Reuters that Infantino still possesses sufficient votes to secure re-election. As a result, critics may shift their focus towards limiting his authority.

Infantino is expected to campaign for a fourth term when the presidential vote occurs in Rabat on March 18, 2027. Fifa confirmed earlier this month that "nothing has changed" regarding his candidacy. A Fifa spokesperson reiterated:

The Fifa president announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election.

This announcement followed Infantino's refusal to address questions about his future during the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland.

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