FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed the creation of a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to manage commercial and event operations for the World Cup and other competitions. The global governing body intends to sell stakes of up to 20 percent to external private investors to maximize revenues, aiming to raise 4.2 billion dollars and valuing the subsidiary at 20 billion dollars. To secure support, Infantino has offered 40 million dollars to each of the 211 member associations, though he insists the plan is part of a consultation process and is an opportunity rather than an obligation.
The proposal has triggered global outrage and a fierce backlash from football authorities and political figures, including former FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Opponents, including UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation, warn that the move could create conflicts between investors' profit motives and FIFA's role as the sport's regulator. UEFA characterized the plan as an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football, asserting that the World Cup is not for sale and that the soul and governance of the sport are not assets to trade.
In an unprecedented move, UEFA's 55 member associations held an emergency meeting on Thursday and voted 55-0 to boycott all FIFA competitions. The boycott, which could begin with next year's Women's World Cup, is a protest against the plan to sell stakes to private investors. UEFA stated that its national teams will not participate in any FIFA competition until the proposal is abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances are given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.