{
  "id": 1757420,
  "title": "Premier League chief says Fifa self-destructed over World Cup plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/premier-league-chief-says-fifa-self-destructed-over-world-cup-plan-1757420",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T17:21:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/premier-league-chief-says-fifa-162657210.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Premier League chief Richard Masters has harshly criticized FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell off World Cup commercial and ticketing rights, stating that FIFA has \"pressed the self-destruct button\" by making this decision. Infantino's proposed organization, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which aimed to manage the commercial and ticketing rights of all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, was abandoned due to widespread criticism from various confederations, most notably Uefa. Masters expressed his support for the English Football Association's withdrawal of backing for Infantino and called for a new candidate for the presidency who can unify football. He emphasized that FIFA, as a not-for-profit organization, should be holding the World Cup in trust for the future of football and not selling off a stake in it. Masters also raised concerns about the red card review process during the recent World Cup, particularly the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun, and questioned why FIFA lacks a straightforward red card review process, as is the case in the Premier League.",
  "summary": "Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has criticised Fifa president Gianni Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan, saying the organisation has \"pressed the self-destruct button\" by delivering \"a self-inflicted wound\".",
  "key_points": [
    "Premier League chief Richard Masters criticizes FIFA's plan to sell World Cup rights.",
    "FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) abandoned due to confederation criticism.",
    "Masters urges new FIFA president to unify football."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Premier League to publish referee, VAR explanations after matches",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/premier-league-to-publish-referee-var-explanations-after-matches",
        "published": "2026-08-18T19:52:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}