Infantino threatens FIFA members with a 75% funding cut for rejecting investment plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino threatens FIFA member countries with a 75% reduction in funding if his plan to sell FIFA stakes to private investors is not supported. This is reported by The Telegraph Sport, as conveyed by UNN.

Details

Gianni Infantino, the embattled FIFA president, has given member organizations a 53-day deadline to support his plans to sell a stake in the World Cup, or else they face a 75% cut in potential funding. In a letter sent by the FIFA president to all 211 member associations, Infantino promised that funds of up to $10 billion would be available from January 1, 2027, and also offered access to £30 million under his new "Fifa Forward Enterprise" initiative

However, it is noted that Infantino warned that any members who oppose his plan to attract private investment will be excluded from the new funding model if the associations ultimately adopt it.

In the letter, seen by The Telegraph Sport, Infantino set the associations a deadline of September 19 to decide whether they will agree to his plan to sell between 20 and 30 percent of FIFA's commercial rights to private investors.

If you decide to implement it, this $10 billion package will become available from January 1, 2027, opening the next stage of our shared journey. In return, all that is required from you is your unwavering trust—everything else will remain unchanged. If you wish to maintain the status quo and reject this proposal, we still have the planned expansion of the "Forward" program worth $2.7 billion, as previously presented, which will continue to contribute to the improvement and development of our football. We will continue to achieve great results together

UEFA reacted to Infantino's demands.

Today we learned about the deadline set by FIFA for national federations, within which they must support its proposals, or else the one-time payment offer will be withdrawn. This says everything that needs to be known about this plan. However, after discussions with many stakeholders in football, UEFA realizes that there is significant and growing resistance to the FIFA scheme. FIFA can no longer use our sport to enrich itself and its friends. We can develop football properly. It is time to prioritize associations, clubs, leagues, players, and fans

Recall

FIFA announced plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions by creating a semi-private subsidiary.