Football power struggle caused FIFA World Cup plan fallout, says Kushner
Investor Joshua Kushner blames football's 'political dynamics' for FIFA's leadership crisis involving Gianni Infantino.
Venture capitalist Josh Kushner expressed regret over his company Thrive's involvement in FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell a portion of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors. Kushner, Jared Kushner's brother and Donald Trump's son-in-law, defended the idea behind the ill-fated FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal but acknowledged that his firm had not fully grasped the politics of soccer.
Infantino scrapped the proposal in mid-July due to widespread criticism from UEFA and other stakeholders. While Thrive supports the proposal's underlying goals, Kushner admitted that they should have been aware of the potential fallout. The billionaire company, known for working with all stakeholders, stated they would not have entered the proposal if they had known how it turned out.
UEFA has demanded access to FIFA and Thrive's communications for a potential criminal case in Switzerland. Infantino maintains that the FFE concept aimed to distribute more money to underdeveloped nations, enhancing grassroots football and the global game.
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