Infantino gives ultimatum to football governing bodies over World Cup sale plans

The FA has joined UEFA criticism towards FIFA's sell out plan

Along with JP Morgan, FIFA works to set up a new company called Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).

FFE is planned to be sold off to private companies, claiming this would help raise up to £7.5 billion.

The member associations now have 53 days to decide on their accord with the sellout.

Each partaking association would receive £15 million for the proceeds of a 20% sale of the commercial entity, Fifa Forward Enterprise. 

The UEFA has come forth stating: “The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade”

“Especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell.”

The UEFA has been an open voice in condemning FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino. 

The FA made a statement regarding the matter earlier today, a marking point in its first criticism towards FIFA.

Despite looking away at the Folarin Balogun case during the World Cup, as well as endorsing the Saudi Arabia bid for the 2034 World Cup, the FA drew the line at the upcoming sale.

The FA is understood to have held talks with UEFA and other European associations, who are determined to kill the plan.

This includes talks of a boycott of FIFA tournaments and a potential breakaway.

The UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC were already embracing to repel FIFA’s proposal of a 64 team expansion for the 2030 World Cup.

However, with outside endorsement and private investors, there is fear that the expansion is inevitable.

Additionally, given how lucrative and profitable the World Cup has become, Infantino is pushing to stage the tournament more regularly.

Hanz-Joachim Watzke, Vice President of the German FA and of the UEFA’s executive committee has been very open about his views regarding the matter.

Watzke via German-based Kicker magazine said: “Many in European football see Fifa’s plans as an outright attack on football. I share this view. A line has been crossed here.”

Britain’s Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, took on social media to raise his voice.

“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell,” Burnham wrote on X. 

“Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.”