FIFA president Gianni Infantino has found himself at the centre of another major controversy after reports revealed he could have earned nearly £47 million ($63 million) annually if a proposed plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup had been approved.
The controversial proposal, which was eventually abandoned after widespread criticism from football governing bodies and national associations, would have dramatically increased Infantino’s earnings from approximately £4.5 million per year to almost £47 million annually—equivalent to nearly £1 million every week.
The revelations have sparked fresh debate about governance, transparency and commercial influence within world football, with critics arguing that the World Cup should never become a privately owned commercial asset.
The proposal that shocked football
According to reports, FIFA planned to raise approximately £3.1 billion through private investment under a project known as Football Future Enterprise (FFE).
The proposal reportedly attracted interest from major investment groups, including Thrive Capital, an investment firm backed by Jared Kushner, while JP Morgan was believed to be serving as a financial adviser on the deal.
The investment would have reportedly allowed private firms to acquire a 20 percent stake in the venture responsible for managing certain commercial aspects of the FIFA World Cup.
Despite repeated assurances from Infantino that “nobody is selling football,” the proposal quickly generated fierce opposition.
Massive backlash from football authorities
The strongest resistance reportedly came from UEFA, whose member associations were said to have threatened a boycott of future FIFA competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also voiced concerns over the proposal.
England’s Football Association (FA) publicly supported UEFA’s position, insisting that football’s long-term interests should come before commercial gain.
The FA stated that the situation highlighted the need for a comprehensive review of FIFA’s leadership and governance structures to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
Infantino abandons the project
Following weeks of criticism, Infantino officially announced that the proposal would no longer proceed.
He acknowledged that the project had created significant divisions among football stakeholders.
According to him, FIFA’s primary objective has always been to unite football rather than create conflict.
He explained that after listening carefully to member associations and football authorities, continuing with the proposal was no longer in the best interests of the global game.
The FIFA president stressed that the organisation remains committed to growing football worldwide, particularly in developing nations that require greater financial support.
Questions over potential earnings
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the proposal has been reports that Infantino’s personal earnings could have increased to approximately £47 million annually had the project been implemented.
Although the proposal was ultimately withdrawn before any financial changes occurred, the reported figures have generated significant criticism from football fans and governance experts.
Many supporters questioned whether such compensation would have aligned with FIFA’s responsibility to protect football’s integrity and ensure fair distribution of resources across member associations.
FIFA’s future leadership
Despite the controversy, reports suggest that Infantino still intends to seek another term as FIFA president during the organisation’s 2027 presidential election.
Having first assumed office in 2016, Infantino has overseen major changes to international football, including the expansion of the FIFA World Cup and increased commercial partnerships.
Supporters argue that his leadership has helped FIFA generate record revenues and expand football globally, while critics continue to question aspects of governance and transparency under his administration.
Football remains divided
Although the investment proposal has now been withdrawn, discussions surrounding FIFA’s commercial direction are unlikely to disappear.
The incident has highlighted the growing tension between generating revenue for football’s development and preserving the sport’s traditional governance structure.
Many football stakeholders believe the failed proposal serves as an important reminder that major decisions affecting the world’s most popular sport require broad consensus rather than unilateral action.
For now, the FIFA World Cup remains fully under FIFA’s control, and the controversial investment plan has officially been shelved.
More information about FIFA’s governance, competitions and official announcements is available on the official FIFA website: https://www.fifa.com/
As attention now shifts toward the 2027 FIFA presidential election, football fans around the world will be watching closely to see whether Gianni Infantino can retain the confidence of the global football community after one of the most controversial commercial proposals in FIFA’s modern history.
