UEFA 'rebuilding trust' after FIFA scraps World Cup sell-out plans

FIFA's President Gianni Infantino has canceled his plan to sell shares in FIFA competitions to private investors, following widespread criticism from the global football community. European football's governing body, UEFA, applauded the decision, describing it as a "victory for the whole game." In a statement, Infantino acknowledged that the project had fostered divisions that were detrimental to the objectives set forth.

UEFA expressed disappointment, stating that the task of restoring trust in FIFA had only just begun. The European body criticized Infantino for his secretive approach and called for responsible parties to unite and prevent such occurrences in the future. UEFA's members unanimously boycotted all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, until the plan was withdrawn.

Infantino's proposal would have established a commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise, responsible for managing competitions like the World Cup, including revenue from broadcasting, sponsorship, tickets, and hospitality. The proposed investors included Thrive Eternal, a fund managed by Thrive Capital, which was founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Infantino, who faced scrutiny for his close relationship with the US president, had proposed the measure by September 19, offering $40 million to associations that backed the plan. Opposition to Infantino's plans intensified, leading to the resignation of his senior advisor, Carlos Cordeiro, and a harsh rebuke from FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, who referred to the proposal as a "project of one person who had deceived FIFA staff."