FIFA Drops Plan to Sell Part of World Cup After Backlash

FIFA, the organization that runs world soccer, suddenly dropped a plan on Saturday to sell part of its World Cup rights for up to $4.2 billion. The plan would have given private investors a 20% stake in a new company that would manage FIFA events, including the World Cup. Leaders from soccer's regional groups said they were never asked about the idea. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organization listened carefully to all the views before canceling the plan.

The proposal had only been announced on Tuesday, just a few days earlier. Almost right away, leaders from soccer confederations around the world pushed back hard. They said such a big change to how the sport is run should not be made without talking to them first. The fast reversal surprised many people who follow the sport closely.

Regional leaders were clear about what they expected going forward. Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, welcomed FIFA's decision to back down. He wrote that any plan that could affect global soccer should be shared and discussed with confederations, councils, and member groups in an open and timely way. He stressed that the future of the sport must be shaped through proper consultation and respect for the established rules of governance.

Leaders from other parts of the world shared similar feelings. Football Australia chairman Anter Isaac said it is fine to try new ideas, but some principles must never be ignored. He listed integrity, independence, good governance, transparency, and meaningful consultation as values that cannot be skipped. "These are not constraints on progress. They are what make lasting progress possible," Isaac said.

The controversy has also raised questions about Infantino's future as FIFA's leader. In April, he said he wants to run for a fourth term as president. Since he took over in 2016, he has won re-election twice without anyone running against him. Many experts now say this episode has damaged his standing with some member groups.

Sports marketing analyst Bob Dorfman said Infantino has rubbed some member associations the wrong way with past decisions. He pointed to controversy over which countries have been chosen to host World Cups. These concerns, along with the current backlash, could make it harder for Infantino to win re-election at next year's FIFA Congress in Morocco.

The timing makes the whole situation even more striking. Just two weeks ago, Infantino was celebrating what was called the most commercially successful World Cup in history. Economist Victor Matheson of the College of the Holy Cross noted how fast things changed. "Just two weeks later, he's fighting for his political life," Matheson said.