FIFA's proposal to sell a stake in a new unit responsible for managing events like the World Cup was met with strong resistance, particularly from UEFA, which threatened a boycott and criticized the plan as detrimental to the sport's integrity.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged the divisions created by the proposal, stating that it was no longer in the organization's best interest to proceed. The plan aimed to value the new unit at $20 billion and generate up to $4.2 billion in revenue.
Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned, labeling the proposal a 'bad deal for football,' while FIFA's Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour expressed that the initiative was driven by Infantino alone. The backlash against the proposal underscores the complexities FIFA faces in its governance and the potential impact on its future financial strategies