FIFA plan for Kushner-backed $20B operation to run World Cup meets UEFA fury
a day ago
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino plans to create a $20 billion commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run the World Cup and Club World Cup, with private investors including the Kushner family.
- UEFA strongly opposes the plan, stating that football is not FIFA's to sell and criticizing the lack of transparency and potential financial gains for private investors.
- FIFA proposes to offer each of its 211 member federations up to $20 million in development funds through the 'FIFA Fast-Forward Program' as part of the deal.
- This is Infantino's second attempt to privatize FIFA assets, following a failed $25 billion deal with SoftBank in 2018 that faced resistance from UEFA.
- Concerns are raised about Infantino's close ties to the Trump family and Saudi Arabia, and UEFA warns that the plan crosses a line for football governance.