The conflict between FIFA and UEFA has reached a new level after Gianni Infantino unveiled his plan to open part of FIFA’s commercial business to private investors. UEFA will hold an emergency meeting this week to coordinate its response, as many European football leaders strongly oppose the proposal.
According to RMC Sport, the governing body wants to present a united front and challenge a project that many officials believe threatens the future governance of football.
Infantino wants FIFA to create a new company that would manage the commercial rights to the World Cup and the Club World Cup, including broadcasting and marketing deals. FIFA would then sell a minority stake of between 20 and 30% to private investors. Reports identify a group led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, among the leading candidates. FIFA values the company at around €17.5 billion and hopes to raise roughly €3.7 billion through the sale. The governing body also plans to distribute around $20 million to each member federation that supports the initiative.
UEFA now wants to increase the pressure on FIFA. According to Sky Sports, several European federations have even discussed the possibility of boycotting the next Women’s World Cup in Brazil if Infantino refuses to abandon the project. UEFA used the same strategy in 2021 when Aleksander Čeferin opposed FIFA’s proposal to hold the World Cup every two years. Faced with strong European resistance, Infantino eventually dropped that idea, and UEFA hopes history will repeat itself.
