FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned a plan to allow private investment in a new commercial entity linked to the World Cup and other major tournaments following strong opposition from football bodies worldwide.

FIFA said the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) could have raised up to $4.2 billion and increased funding for its 211-member associations. However, the idea of private investors taking a stake in the project triggered criticism from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF.

According to AFP, UEFA warned that its national teams could boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal moved forward, while senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, calling the plan harmful to football’s future.

"The World Cup is not for sale," UEFA said, rejecting the idea of treating football’s biggest tournament as an investment product.

Infantino said the proposal would not proceed after consultations showed it had created divisions within the football community. He said FIFA would now focus on restoring unity and continuing football development worldwide.

BOB Post