Fifa plan to sell World Cup stakes faces internal revolt and UEFA boycott

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is facing a severe internal and external backlash over his proposal to sell minority stakes in the organisation's commercial operations to private investors. The plan, which would create a new subsidiary called Fifa Forward Enterprise, has prompted the resignation of a senior adviser and sharp public criticism from the governing body's chief operating officer.

Kevin Lamour, Fifa’s chief operating officer, described the initiative as "the project of one person" and claimed the administration was deceived about its details. Acknowledging his duty of loyalty, Lamour stated he was willing to lose his job over the matter, adding that he would at least sleep well knowing he supported his colleagues.

Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, also resigned, calling the proposal "a bad deal for football". The former Goldman Sachs banker argued the move would mortgage the sport's future and questioned the lack of oversight, asking why the deal was necessary and who ultimately benefits.

The financial implications of the proposal are substantial. A document produced by JP Morgan outlines plans to expand tournaments to increase payouts to member associations to 24 million euros per cycle between 2035 and 2039. The pitch argues that Fifa is currently under-monetised and suggests bringing in external capital to fund new business initiatives.

Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, is expected to lead the proposed investor group. However, the prospect of private equity and venture capital gaining a foothold in the World Cup has alarmed European stakeholders. Uefa, which controls 55 votes, has threatened to boycott the tournament if the privatisation proceeds, declaring that the competition is not for sale.

The opposition from continental confederations likely dooms the proposal. Fifa requires a simple majority of 106 votes from its 211 members to pass the measure. With Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation publicly opposing the plan, those three bodies alone command 136 votes if their member nations follow their lead.

The Asian Football Confederation joined the European and North American bodies in rejecting the initiative, stating it lacks the necessary broad consensus. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham labelled Infantino "the wrong man" to lead the organisation, while US President Donald Trump stated he had not discussed the plans with the Fifa president.

Despite the mounting pressure, Fifa has vowed to continue with the strategy, insisting that nobody is selling football and blaming the backlash on incorrect media reports. The governing bodies in Africa and Oceania are scheduled to discuss the proposals in August, while South America’s Conmebol has requested further clarification on the deal's structure and governance.