Thu, July 30, 2026
FIFA president offers £30 million to member associations if they support his plan to sell off stakes in FIFA’s major events
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has contacted all 211 member associations, offering them £30 million if they support his plan to sell off stakes in FIFA’s major events. Infantino’s latest plan involves creating a commercial subsidiary to manage its major events, such as the World Cup, and to sell stakes to outside private investors. Specifically, FIFA has stated that money will be raised by “liquidating a minority portion” of its stake on FIFA Forward Enterprise, the subsidiary company Infantino hopes to create to boost commercial revenue.
In order to receive an extra £15 million by January next year, members have been told that they need to pledge support by 19 September.
In his five-page letter to the member associations, acquired by BBC Sport, Infantino wrote: “It is my duty and responsibility as FIFA president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members…
It is equally my duty and responsibility to ensure such proposals are sufficiently complete and feasible, replete with substantiated figures and clear terms to assist you in the decision-making process.”
FIFA estimates that Infantino’s plan could raise around £7.52 billion, but he has drawn condemnation from various groups and allegedly did not consult all of FIFA’s eight vice presidents about the plan, offering a very vague plan for boosting revenue streams before the World Cup final instead.
It is not only FIFA’s vice presidents that were allegedly left in the dark about the plan. The Football Association (FA) told the BBC: “We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is and what conditions are attached…
Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved…
When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear and comment further.”
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) voiced: “We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process…
We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place…
As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, FIFA, the confederations and every member association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport.”
The French Football Federation expressed: “It obviously raises many questions, particularly since we, the member federations, were not involved and we lack the specific information needed to weigh in on matters that are clearly fundamental to the future of football.”
La Liga (professional association football league in Spain) president, Javier Tebas, stated: “It doesn't seem like a reform. It seems like an electoral campaign financed with the future of football [Infantino is expected to win a fourth term as FIFA president in March 2027]…
Development cannot be used to buy votes or silences. The competitions and commercial rights of FIFA are not the personal patrimony of Infantino…
Whoever mixes politics, discipline, money and power without transparency cannot lead anything…
Infantino is not the solution to FIFA’s governance. He is the problem.”
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said: “While the AFC recognises the importance of exploring innovative approaches that can strengthen the future of global football, initiatives of this scale and consequence must be founded upon the principles of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation.”
Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, well known for being involved in one of football’s biggest corruption scandals, although acquitted last year, voiced: “The close relationship between the FIFA president and the US President [Donald Trump] has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No-one has the right to sell our game.”
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has gone one step further and will conduct an emergency meeting will all of its 55 members this week, claiming that FIFA has “crossed a line,” and it is assumed that the European governing body may discuss a boycott.
UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, boycotted the World Cup final this month after FIFA's commitment to political neutrality was placed under scrutiny following its decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun's one-match ban for a one-year probationary period, after US President Donald Trump publicly intervened in support of the player.
Furthermore, Infantino was criticised shortly before this latest announcement after he shared plans to possibly expand this year’s 48-team World Cup tournament to 64 teams by 2030, which will be a centenary tournament, adding even more games to the football calendar which is already packed due to the expansion of European club competitions. FIFA has also been criticised for its lack of disciplinary action against Argentina during the World Cup final, although the FIFA Disciplinary Committee is said to be investigating the team’s conduct and may take action retrospectively.
Some believed that Infantino would try to gain stability after a controversial World Cup, and before the FIFA presidential election, but his plans to create a FIFA subsidiary and sell stakes have instead sparked further criticism and increased tensions.
