Premier League chief says Fifa self-destructed over World Cup plan

Premier League chief Richard Masters has harshly criticized Fifa president Gianni Infantino's plan for selling off parts of the World Cup, calling it a "self-inflicted wound" that has "pressed the self-destruct button" on the organisation. Infantino's attempt to create a new company, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup, was abandoned due to widespread criticism from confederations like Uefa.

Masters supported the English Football Association's withdrawal of support for Infantino and called for a new candidate for the presidency who could unify football. Masters expressed concerns about the red card review process at the World Cup and the lack of transparency within Fifa, noting that the Premier League operates with a clear process for handling red cards.

He defended the league's quality and its status as a top destination for world-class talent, with nearly half of the top 100 ranked players currently playing in the Premier League.