Fifa president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell chunks of the World Cup to private investors, announced on Tuesday nine days after the final, has sent shock waves through football. The proposal, which could allow private investors a say in how and when Fifa's tournaments are run, is potentially more seismic and global in scale than the proposed European Super League in 2021. Uefa responded swiftly, stating: "This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross." However, this echoes a similar statement from 6 July regarding the shelving of Folarin Balogun's suspension, which also "crossed a red line."
Fifa's $15bn Haul and the 19 September Deadline
Infantino's plan comes after Fifa generated a record $15bn (£11.2bn) from the recent World Cup. The organisation has given national football associations until 19 September to decide whether to accept an initial $20m payment that would effectively count as endorsement of the new scheme. The Football Association (FA) of England, which hopes to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, was quick to endorse Infantino before the summer. Germany remains the highest-profile holdout among European nations, with Finland's FA president, Ari Lahti, stating in June that his country aimed "not to be an eyesore" by refusing to back Infantino.
Europe's Dilemma: Words vs. Action
Uefa's renewed appetite to confront Fifa has been honed over numerous run-ins in the past 15 months. However, as one leading European football figure noted, Infantino's response to criticism often involves announcing more funds for everyone. The Guardian revealed in mid-July that more than 200 of Fifa's 211 members have already submitted letters supporting his candidacy for re-election early next year. Most of those resisting significant pressure are from Europe. Concrete action from a few major European nations, with their governments aligned, could render the plan untenable.
Potential Sanctions and Boycott Threats
Any talk of boycotting future World Cups, including the women's edition in Brazil next year, is complicated by Fifa's statutes requiring members to participate in its competitions. The only way to avoid financially prohibitive sanctions may be to threaten withdrawal from Fifa and create a new governance model for football. Uefa's position is further complicated by its close relationship with the European Football Clubs (EFC), which seeks a joint venture with Fifa to run the Club World Cup. Unlike Fifa's proposal, the existing Uefa-EFC joint venture, UC3, does not involve private capital.
Call for a United Front and Electoral Challenge
Some football figures speculate whether Uefa might endorse its own candidate to run for the Fifa presidency in March, but consensus suggests it may be too soon, with positioning for 2031 when Infantino must stand aside under current rules. However, there is no time for a long game when Infantino plans to carve up football's future among private interests rapidly. A complaint by global players' union FifPro and the European Leagues organisation about Fifa's grip on the international match calendar, lodged in October 2024, may place obstacles in front of expansion plans, but no resolution appears imminent.
Need for Bravery and Sturdy Spines
Uefa and Europe must take a lead and reject the status quo. This could reveal friends in unexpected places, such as countries in Asia that would be open to clear suggestions of a better path. The fear is that a rush of nebulous statements, such as the Danish FA's emphasis on gaining "a complete understanding of the proposal and the process behind it," will result in procrastination and tacit acceptance. Bravery and sturdy spines are required now, more than ever, if football is to survive in anything resembling its present form.
