Timeline: How Fifa’s World Cup private investment plan imploded

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has pulled the plug on the plan to allow private investment in the World Cup which had sparked a furious global backlash even among his allies.

AFP Sport details the timeline of the dramatic few days which significantly weakened Infantino, who had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful 48-team World Cup spread over three countries:

– Tuesday –

The Times newspaper breaks the story, sparking Uefa to issue a strongly-worded statement “None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell.”

Fifa, having issued a no comment to The Times, finally breaks cover with details of the plan saying: “It would retain a majority share in Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE)” but hoped to raise $4.2 billion later this year by “carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests”.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who campaigned tirelessly for justice for the families of Hillsborough victims, was vehemently opposed to the proposal.

“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell,” he posted on X.

– Wednesday –