Uefa issues furious statement after reports Fifa plans to sell stakes in World Cup

Uefa has reacted furiously to reports that Fifa president Gianni Infantino is planning to sell stakes in the World Cup and its other tournaments to investors.

Infantino is plotting a scheme whereby Fifa would retain majority control of a new enterprise, and the rest would be sold, partly to each of Fifa’s 211 national associations should they wish to invest, and partly to private investment.

The plan could potentially see Infantino installed as the “commissioner” of the World Cup when his Fifa presidency finally ends in 2031, a position that would prove extremely lucrative, according to The Times .

Uefa, the governing body of European football and a long-term critic of Infantino, said in a statement: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross.

“UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.

“None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

The investment would be led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, who is married to President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, through his Thrive Eternal fund.

Thrive Eternal took a minority stake in Major League ‌Baseball’s San Francisco Giants this year. The ​vehicle was founded by Kushner, and former ⁠Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger serves as an adviser.

Fifa is working with bankers at JPMorgan to raise billions of dollars by bringing in external investors to take as much as a 20 per cent stake ‌in the entity. Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has ​been involved as a commercial adviser on the creation of the Fifa enterprise.

In a statement, Fifa said it would “raise up to $4.2bn later this year” to fund the project, “based on an initial equity valuation of $ 20bn by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests … All net benefits will be reinvested back into football worldwide.”

It added: “In a similar way to other sports governing bodies with dedicated commercial subsidiaries, FIFA will invite third parties to make … investments.

“Any such investors would be selected against clear long-term, governance, and strategic criteria. They would represent a geographically diversified group that reflects the global nature of the game, acting as minority, long-term partners that could contribute capital and commercial expertise in support of FIFA’s mission to grow the global game.

“FIFA would retain sole control via majority board representation and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions.”

The proposal is subject to approval by the Fifa Council.

Football Supporters Europe called for Infantino’s resignation. “The World Cup is not for sale,” it said. “Enough of this charade. FIFA member associations – and everyone who cares about the future of the game – must stand up to the man who wants to sell world football. Gianni Infantino must go.”

Last week, Infantino praised Fifa for “delivering the best show in the world” and spoke of the World Cup bringing “joy and togetherness,” in a 900-word statement published across a 15-page post on his Instagram account and on the Fifa website.

“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” the Fifa leader wrote, addressing his comments to “those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours”.

Fifa and Infantino faced criticism during the World Cup for Iran team officials, a Somali referee and fans being denied entry to the United States; alleged political influence by Mr Trump in letting Folarin Balogun avoid a ban for a red card; unprecedented high ticket prices and commercialised breaks in play midway through each half of all 104 games.

“Every city was packed with fans from all around the globe,” Infantino wrote. “While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate.”