The English Football Association is not happy. And they’re not alone.
Gianni Infantino’s latest scheme involves selling off pieces of the World Cup to private investors, and the FA says it had no idea any of this was coming. In a statement Tuesday, an FA spokesperson called the proposal a source of “deep concern,” mainly because they learned about it the same way everyone else did: through the news.
Here’s the gist of what FIFA is pitching. They want to create a new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a private company that would handle commercial rights and tournament delivery for the World Cup. FIFA says it will still own and control this company, but they’d bring in outside money — private investors who would buy “minority, non-controlling investments.” The idea is that every member association would get a one-time payout of $20 million.
The group leading this investment push is reportedly tied to Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who is Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Infantino has grown close to Trump in the months leading up to this summer’s World Cup, and that connection isn’t being ignored by critics.
The FA’s frustration is pretty raw. Their statement didn’t mince words: “We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached.” They went on to say they’re “deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point.”
UEFA already pushing back hard
European soccer’s governing body has come out swinging against the plan. UEFA is holding an emergency meeting this week with its 55 member associations. The Danish FA is also in wait-and-see mode. Director Erik Brogger Rasmussen said they only read about the proposal in the media, but it could have “very far-reaching consequences for international football.”
The timeline is tight. FIFA wants member associations to vote on this by September 19. That leaves just a few weeks for national federations to dig into the details — or demand answers.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has already weighed in with criticism. The political angle here is not subtle. A plan that funnels World Cup money through a private company, tied to people connected to the Trump family, while the tournament is being played in the U.S.? It’s a lot for soccer purists to swallow.
For now, the FA says it will wait for FIFA to share the full proposal “in the full and transparent way now promised.” But the tone of their statement suggests they’re not holding their breath.
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