FIFA president Gianni Infantino has pulled the plug on the plan to allow private investment in the World Cup which had sparked a furious global backlash even among his allies.

AFP Sport details the timeline of the dramatic few days which significantly weakened Infantino, who had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful 48-team World Cup spread over three countries:

– Tuesday –

The Times newspaper breaks the story, sparking UEFA to issue a strongly-worded statement “None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

FIFA, having issued a no comment to The Times, finally breaks cover with details of the plan saying: “It would retain a majority share in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)” but hoped to raise $4.2 billion later this year by “carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests”.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who campaigned tirelessly for justice for the families of Hillsborough victims, was vehemently opposed to the proposal.

“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell,” he posted on X.

– Wednesday –

If Infantino had been hoping for reassurance from other confederations he was to be disappointed.

CONCACAF, Central and North American football’s governing body — which includes the three co-hosts of the World Cup, USA, Canada and Mexico — said it was “deeply concerned” at having not been consulted.

“We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place,” read their statement.

The European Union made no bones about their opposition: “Hands off our game.”

The Asian Football Confederation — one of whose members, Saudi Arabia, is to host the 2034 World Cup — expressed their disappointment at not being informed of the plans.

Various media outlets reported Infantino had sent a letter to FIFA’s member associations saying they will each receive $40 million if they back the plan — but they must sign up by September 19.

Infantino hit back later on Wednesday in a video.

“Fans from everywhere in the world would gain immeasurably from this game-changing potential because it will transform football in their countries,”

– Thursday –

Infantino’s video message nothing to calm tempers — UEFA, whose president Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the World Cup final to show unhappiness with FIFA, had had enough.

They issued a statement saying they would boycott all FIFA competitions  — in the recent World Cup which Spain won, three of the four semi-finalists were European.

“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive,” read their statement.

Once again the European Union fell in behind the continent’s governing body, praising them for “defending the integrity of the game”.

Infantino took a further hit when CONCACAF’S 41 members unanimously rejected the proposal.

– Friday –

Seemingly impervious to the mounting criticism and shrugging aside UEFA’s threat of a boycott, FIFA ploughed on issuing a statement that it was full steam ahead.

“Nobody is selling football,” FIFA said in the statement.

“This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”

FIFA said it had heard the feedback from confederations.

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

Instead of righting the ship the vessel took on more water hours later with the resignation of Infantino’s Special Advisor Carlos Cordeiro.

The former investment banker and ex-head of the US Soccer Federation did not mince his words.

“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,” he wrote in his resignation statement.

The AFC also chipped in offering little succour to the increasingly beleaguered Infantino.

“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game,” said the AFC.

Burnham chipped in by saying Infantino was “the wrong man for the job”.

Even South America’s governing body CONMEBOL — seen as close to Infantino — failed to swing behind it, finally issuing a statement saying it had requested “additional information and clarifications”.

– Saturday –

The white flag was raised.

“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” Infantino said in a statement.

“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

AFP