Gianni Infantino’s embarrassing statement in full as humiliated Fifa boss reveals he’s ditching World Cup sell-off plan

GIANNI INFANTINO’s scandalous plan to sell the World Cup to private investors was finally scrapped on Friday evening. The Fifa supremo was the target of global backlash after a plan was revealed to create a Fifa subsidiary, the Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would run the World Cup and be open to private investment. Gianni Infantino has released a pathetic statement after scrapping his World Cup sell-off plan Credit: Getty Uefa‘s boycott promise and letters of opposition from the North and Central American and the Asian confederations made getting the blessing of the required 106 of the organisation’s 211 member associations look quite the longshot. And reports of key investors pulling out over a “brand nightmare” sealed the deal, with Infantino finally accepting defeat as he released an embarrassing statement announcing the proposals would be scrapped. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Infantino said in a statement: “The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed. “And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders. READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place. Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. “As a result, this proposal will not proceed. Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.” Fifa valued the new planned branch at around £15billion, and had hopes of selling off a 20 per cent stake to generate £3bn, with one of the front-runners for investment being Joshua Kushner – the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – and his company Thrive Capital. But the New York Post claimed that the fiasco surrounding the plans had turned the group away from getting involved. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Joshua Kushner has reportedly withdrawn his interest in investing in the proposal Credit: Getty They were told by a source of the group: “They are not feeling this. There is no way they want to continue to be involved in this mess. “Kushner will figure out another way to get involved in this space. This is becoming a brand nightmare.” There was also significant pressure from Uefa, who vowed that none of their members would compete in Fifa tournaments so long as the proposals went ahead. They wrote: “As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership. “Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination. “There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments. “Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.” There was even internal pressure from senior Fifa figures, who claimed that even the hierarchy at the governing body was deceived and left in the dark. Fifa COO accuses Gianni Infantino of ‘deceiving’ governing body Fifa chief operating officer Kevin Lamour did not pull his punches as he accused Gianni Infantino of deceiving the governing body's hierarchy regarding the World Cup sell-off plan. Lamour said: “To put it very clearly and directly: the project that has sparked so much controversy and debate is not a Fifa project. It is even less a project of Fifa’s administration. It is the project of one person. “The Fifa vice-presidents, the members of the Fifa Council, the confederations, the federations, the players, the leagues, the clubs, and the fans were not the only ones who were ignored. “Fifa’s own administration was also deceived. This lie by omission over many months and this unilateral exercise of power are not trivial. “They are indicative of a lack of trust, a lack of transparency, a lack of discernment, a lack of good governance. And a serious lack of respect. “Not only must this project not go ahead — for obvious reasons that need not even be listed here — but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions. “Regarding this project and what comes next. Everyone must take responsibility. Because it is becoming increasingly difficult for Fifa’s administration to work under these conditions and fulfil its mission. “My feeling is that we all want to be proud to work for Fifa, and today, unfortunately, it seems that is no longer the case for many of us. That saddens me. “My colleagues — some of whom have dedicated their lives to football — deserve better than contempt and intimidation. “The ball is now in the court of those who have the power to change things. I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. “But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to the upbringing I have received, and a duty to support my colleagues. “And if that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.” Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro was the first to go, resigning from his role while releasing a brutal statement condemning the proposal and questioning its legitimacy. Fifa’s COO Kevin Lamour then spoke up to blast Infantino, saying: “To put it very clearly and directly: the project that has sparked so much controversy and debate is not a Fifa project. It is even less a project of Fifa’s administration. It is the project of one person. He added at the end of his scathing rant: “And if that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.” Infantino is now facing increasing pressure to step down as the head of Fifa – though he is expected to cling on for as long as possible. 1 comment1