Tom Morgan
Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell off the World Cup appears to be dead in the water after the Asian Football Confederation joined resistance to the plan.
On Thursday, England and other European nations agreed they would boycott the World Cup in protest at the plans, while CONCACAF and its 41 member associations across the Americas and the Caribbean also dismissed Infantino’s venture. The combined voting powers of the Asian, American and European bodies means Infantino will not reach the required 50 per cent votes threshold, effectively meaning that his controversial plan will not pass, as it stands.
On Friday morning, FIFA had refused to back down on its US $15 billion $21.3 billion private investment plans and denied it was “selling football”. Rejecting the backlash from England and other UEFA nations, the world governing body vowed to plough on with a consultation period. FIFA also appeared to invite smaller nations to make up their own minds over the potential for increased revenue rather than siding with federations condemning the plans. However, the statement released by the AFC is now a hammer blow to Infantino’s plan.
“The Asian Football Confederation [AFC] has observed with deep concern the developments of recent days relating to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise [FFE] and the uncertainty that has emerged across the global football community,” it said.
“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE.
“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.
“Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by UEFA and CONCACAF, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward.”
Prior to the AFC’s statement, FIFA issued a defiant response to the backlash. It said: “Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs [member associations] around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA.”
Notably, there was no mention of Infantino in the new press release. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports,” FIFA said. “We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts… Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”
UEFA members voted 55-0 in favour of turning their backs on the global governing body in a show of protest against the FIFA president on Thursday.
“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” FIFA said in response.
Infantino has fronted the vision, with an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner – the brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – waiting in the wings to secure a minority stake in the new venture.
European and world leagues are also opposed to the plans, fearing that commercial imperatives will drive FIFA to hold bigger and more frequent tournaments in the future, eating even further into domestic schedules.
UEFA’s opposition to the plan, in its words, is “unanimous and unequivocal”.
The English FA said it stood “shoulder to shoulder” with other European governing bodies in supporting the boycott stance, and the Scottish, Welsh and Irish FAs and the FA of Ireland also said they agreed with the position UEFA had taken.
After UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham condemned Infantino’s plan earlier this week, Lisa Nandy, the UK culture secretary, expressed government support for the boycott. “This is a principled decision that we strongly support,” she said. “Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. Enough is enough. It’s time to take a stand to protect our game.”
On Thursday, an emergency UEFA meeting lasted for two hours, with national associations – including the FA – expressed support for a walk-out on a video call.
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