FIFA hit by furious backlash over plans to sell stake in competitions

Gianni Infantino is billing it as the democratisation of football. But Fifa’s announcement that it aims to sell off stakes in its football competitions – including the World Cup – to private investors via associates of US President Donald Trump has been met with incredulity and rage from fans, politicians and regional governing bodies. The big selling point, according to Infantino, is $40m (£30m) in funding to be distributed to all Fifa member associations to “develop the game” once the deal is finalised.

The Swiss has set a deadline of 19 September for football federations to accept his plans if they want to access an initial $20m (£15m). This is the boldest move Infantino, an administrator who views himself as a world leader on par with presidents and prime ministers, has made in the decade since he became Fifa president. If Fifa pushes the plan through, he will have consolidated his power for the long-term future and made investors wealthy along the way.

So why exactly does Infantino feel powerful enough to enact something so controversial, and what could the consequences be? How can Infantino push his plan through and could he be brought down? Infantino has enough support to suggest the plan is more likely to go ahead than not.

Since being elected Fifa president in 2016, Infantino has earned long-standing, widespread backing from many countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, which have gained financially from various policies he has managed. They include the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, the growth in commercial and broadcast revenue Fifa has overseen, and a programme which allocates millions in funding directly to member countries every year. That gives him a base of support which constitutes more than half of Fifa’s 211 members.

Fifa votes require a simple majority – if more than half vote in favour, Infantino’s plan will come into effect. The proposal will appeal to many nations, particularly those lower down the football food chain, for whom a £15m windfall would be more than they would ordinarily make over several years. The level of backing Infantino enjoys appears to have emboldened his approach to the presidency.

Decisions such as the introduction of hydration breaks and a musical half-time show to the World Cup were taken by his administration without a vote of members, and would have been deemed unthinkable when he took charge a … This week FIFA announced plans to form a new subsidiary company to run part of the World Cup and offer a 20% stake. There was a furious backlash on Wednesday to FIFA's controversial plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a private subsidiary.