FIFA president Gianni Infantino has scrapped plans to sell off a stake in the World Cup amid global fury

His bid to sell off a chunk of a new sister company in charge of the World Cup collapsed following Uefa’s boycott promise and a “brand nightmare” for potential investors.

Gianni Infantino’s hated plan to privatise the World Cup has collapsed Credit: Getty

A huge global backlash put paid to Infantino’s money-making dream Credit: AP

On Tuesday it emerged that Infantino wanted to create a subsidiary called the Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would have presided over money-making assets including the World Cup.

Fifa valued the new branch at £15bn, and was hoping to sell a 20 per cent stake for £3.1bn.

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But now the controversial plans have been scrapped following widespread opposition from football confederations, national associations and senior figures within the organisation.

In comments exclusively obtained by Jattvibe, Infantino said upon listening to “all the views” he recognised the “project has created divisions”

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He added: “Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game.”

Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner‘s brother, had been a front-runner to bid, with JPMorgan onboard in an advisory role.

But according to the New York Post, a source said of Kushner’s group: “They are not feeling this. There is no way they want to continue to be involved in this mess.

“Kushner will figure out another way to get involved in this space. This is becoming a brand nightmare.”

Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin strongly opposed Fifa’s project from the start.

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Joshua Kushner had been tipped to buy into the Fifa Forward Enterprise Credit: Getty

And on Thursday, Uefa’s 55 member associations, including England, agreed to boycott the World Cup should the Fifa Forward Enterprise come to fruition.

Fifa attempted to hang on to its plan, dangling £30m payments to its member associations should it be approved by September 19.

But Uefa’s boycott promise tanked the value of Fifa’s proposed deal – with Europe’s huge markets driving significant commercial interest from TV, sponsors and fans.

Concacaf and the AFC also publicly revealed their opposition to Infantino’s money-making vision, providing a further nail in its coffin.

Early on Friday Infantino was rocked by the resignation of one of his most senior advisers, Carlos Cordeiro.

The former US Soccer president told Jattvibe: “As a senior adviser to the Fifa president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while Fifa considers selling a stake in the World Cup.

“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally.

“It is a bad deal for Fifa’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”

Fifa COO accuses Gianni Infantino of ‘deceiving’ governing body

FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has blasted president Gianni Infantino’s shameless plot

The COO is adamant this whole initiative was down to Infantino alone and he is personally so against it he is willing to step down.
Lamour said: “To put it very clearly and directly: the project that has sparked so much controversy and debate is not a Fifa project. It is even less a project of Fifa’s administration. It is the project of one person.
“The Fifa vice-presidents, the members of the Fifa Council, the confederations, the federations, the players, the leagues, the clubs, and the fans were not the only ones who were ignored.
“Fifa’s own administration was also deceived. This lie by omission over many months and this unilateral exercise of power are not trivial.
“They are indicative of a lack of trust, a lack of transparency, a lack of discernment, a lack of good governance. And a serious lack of respect.
“Not only must this project not go ahead — for obvious reasons that need not even be listed here — but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.
“Regarding this project and what comes next. Everyone must take responsibility. Because it is becoming increasingly difficult for Fifa’s administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission.
“My feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us. That saddens me.
“My colleagues — some of whom have dedicated their lives to football — deserve better than contempt and intimidation.
“The ball is now in the court of those who have the power to change things. I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer.
“But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to the upbringing I have received, and a duty to support my colleagues.
“And if that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

As the project crumbled around them, Fifa still attempted to plough on.

A shameless statement on Friday read: “We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday.

“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.

“Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports.

“We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.

“FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all Fifa Member Associations (MAs) have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself.

“Nobody is selling football. This is not something Fifa would ever entertain.

“Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world.

“Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of Fifa.”

Infantino, dubbed “the most hated man in football“, now finds himself under huge pressure.

Earlier today, JattvibeSport assessed five potential successors to the under-fire Fifa president.

Infantino finds himself in a tricky situation Credit: PA