Former FIFA vice‑president Jim Boyce has sharply criticized Gianni Infantino’s decision to abandon a plan that would have sold a 20 % stake in a new commercial entity overseeing the World Cup and other flagship tournaments.
A proposal that divided football's governing bodies
The scheme, unveiled on Tuesday, envisioned selling a minority stake in a newly created entity that would control FIFA’s commercial operations, with the aim of raising roughly $4.2 billion to fund development projects worldwide.
European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, responded with an unusually strong warning, threatening to boycott FIFA events and accusing the federation of putting the sport’s soul up for sale.
UEFA’s warning reverberates across the continent
UEFA’s statement, released shortly after the FIFA announcement, framed the move as a dangerous precedent that could open the door to profit‑driven decision‑making in international competition, a scenario the confederation vowed to resist.
Infantino defended the proposal as a pragmatic step to secure funding for global growth, insisting that the criticism mischaracterizes the intent behind the stake sale.
The backlash underscores the tension between commercial expansion and the traditional governance model that has long protected football’s integrity.
Although the stake sale has been shelved for the moment, the episode has reignited a broader debate about how the sport’s governing bodies should balance revenue generation with preserving the cultural fabric of the game.