Fifa has reaffirmed its commitment to a plan to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, despite widespread opposition from European and North American football governing bodies.
Fifa says the plan is to invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments in a new subsidiary, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), which will be responsible for commercializing the World Cup and other Fifa events.
The plan has been met with fierce resistance from Uefa, which has vowed to boycott World Cups if the plan proceeds. Uefa's statement read: "The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent."
Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America, has also rejected the proposal, citing concerns about the lack of due process and the artificially short deadline imposed by Fifa.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has offered $40m to member associations if they back the plan, with a deadline of 19 September for federations to accept. Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, is expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.
Infantino's plan has been met with criticism from Uefa and Concacaf, who argue that the World Cup is not for sale. Uefa has accused Fifa of using football to enrich themselves and their friends.
The opposition to the plan is not limited to Uefa and Concacaf. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has expressed deep concerns that Fifa's unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football.
The AFC also questioned the need for private investment after what Fifa claimed was the most profitable World Cup in history. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has weighed in on the issue, saying that football should be for the people, not in private hands.
The situation is far from clear, with many questions still unanswered. A senior European football source said: "Not sure the detail was considered when deciding the overall policy."
Uefa's boycott threat will be activated if Infantino's funding deal is accepted, which could lead to countries pulling out of the U20 Women's World Cup, starting on 5 September. The next senior matches in a Fifa competition are the Women's World Cup play-offs in October, featuring England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Infantino became Fifa president in 2016, and it had been anticipated that he would be re-elected unopposed in March. However, sources say that the vast majority of Concacaf members are either losing faith in Infantino's ability to govern the game, or have lost it altogether.
Source: BBC Sports
