FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposed selling up to 20% of the World Cup and other competitions to private investors through a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), valued at $20 billion, potentially raising $4.2 billion. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] The plan met strong opposition from multiple continental confederations including UEFA and CONCACAF, as well as several member associations, forcing Infantino to withdraw it by August 6. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] UEFA even threatened legal action over the plan. [1, 6]

Infantino, 56, held an emergency meeting with senior FIFA officials on August 5 in Rabat, Morocco, to address the backlash. [2, 3, 4, 5] The controversy deepened when former football star and UEFA adviser Luis Figo, 53, publicly demanded Infantino's immediate resignation. Figo called Infantino “deceitful, self-interested and unfit to lead FIFA,” accusing him of lying, deceiving, and sacrificing football’s interests for personal gain. [1, 2, 6, 3, 4, 5]

Figo described the proposed stake sale as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have witnessed in football.” He said, "The past ten days revealed the lowest, most deceitful, and most selfish behavior I have ever witnessed" and added, "It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now." [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Figo also noted that Infantino has lost support from senior staff, close advisers, and even the FIFA Peace Prize winner, Donald Trump. [1] He said simply, "Infantino must go," and "I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go." [1]

Former Arsenal manager and FIFA's chief of global football development Arsène Wenger publicly distanced himself from the plan on August 4, reflecting broader unease within FIFA ranks. [1, 2, 3, 5] The English and Welsh Football Associations also withdrew support for Infantino due to the stake sale proposal. [6]

Infantino attempted to push the stake sale proposal without fully consulting all FIFA member associations amid fears the World Cup schedule could shift from a four-year to a two-year cycle. [2, 4, 5] Reports also emerged suggesting Infantino’s salary could rise to $30 million a year from the deal, raising conflict of interest concerns. [1]

The failed plan has left FIFA confronting both internal dissent and external legal threats. FIFA’s next steps remain under close scrutiny following the emergency meeting in Morocco and the withdrawal of the controversial proposal.