Infantino withdraws FIFA stake sale plan and proposes governance review
Gianni Infantino has withdrawn plans to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments after criticism, and proposed an independent governance review and wider consultation.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a controversial plan to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors.
The FIFA president announced the proposals in July. The idea was to raise billions of dollars that could be put back into the game. It was met with immediate and widespread condemnation, including threats to boycott FIFA competitions.
In a letter sent to the FIFA Council and all 211 member associations before a meeting next month, Infantino confirmed that FIFA had withdrawn the plans. He said the organisation's democratic processes and independent sporting authority were never for sale.
Infantino said the proposal had entered the public domain before FIFA's planned institutional process had been completed, and before it could be presented in full to the council and member associations. Without that full context, he said, it caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not, he said. It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to approvals from the council and member associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not proceed.
The letter also sets out two governance proposals. Infantino wants an independent external review of FIFA's governance. He also wants direct consultation with confederations, member associations and stakeholders in FIFA's decision-making process.
The backdrop is Infantino's bid to stand for re-election as FIFA president next March. His future as president was called into question after the stake sale proposals became public. The English FA withdrew its support for him.
The letter appears to be a softening of his stance. It is not yet clear whether it will be enough to appease his critics or undo the reputational damage caused to him and to world football's governing body. A response to the announcement is awaited, including from UEFA.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Gianni Infantino announced in July proposals to sell parts of major tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors. | |
| Infantino confirmed the plan had been withdrawn and would not proceed. | |
| The proposals faced widespread condemnation and threats of boycotts of FIFA competitions. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News treated the story as a significant sports governance development. It led with the withdrawal, then spent most of its segment on the July origins, the backlash, the contents of Infantino's letter, and the political damage ahead of his re-election bid. The tone was explanatory and neutral, with a studio correspondent guiding the audience through the implications and the unanswered question of whether critics will be satisfied.
- “FIFA had withdrawn its plans, insisting its democratic processes and independent sporting authority were never for sale.”
- “He's going to propose an independent external review into FIFA's governance.”
- “The likes of the English FA withdrew their support for him.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.