FIFA president Gianni Infantino could have collected almost £47 million (about $63 million) in a single year had a controversial plan to sell off a share of the World Cup gone ahead, according to reports.
The abandoned arrangement would have increased Infantino's annual earnings by roughly £42 million from his existing salary of approximately £4.5 million, taking his total compensation to nearly £1 million per week, the figures suggest.
Key Financial Details Revealed
- Potential annual earnings after the deal: £47 million ($63 million)
- Current annual salary: approximately £4.5 million
- Proposed increase: £42 million
- Equivalent weekly remuneration: nearly £1 million
- Planned private investment: £3.1 billion
- Stake offered to investors: 20 percent
- Member nations affected by the plan: 211
The Football Future Enterprise Plan at a Glance
The proposal revolved around raising £3.1 billion in private investment for FIFA's Football Future Enterprise (FFE) project. Reports have indicated that JP Morgan was serving in an advisory role, while investment firm Thrive Capital — backed by Jared Kushner — was among the parties expected to acquire a 20 percent stake in the venture.
Despite repeatedly insisting that "nobody is selling football," Infantino eventually dropped the proposal after widespread opposition from football governing bodies and member associations across the globe.
UEFA Leads the Revolt
UEFA is understood to have been the driving force behind the resistance, with its member nations threatening to boycott future FIFA competitions, including the World Cup itself. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also voiced criticism of the plan.
England's Football Association aligned itself with UEFA's stance, issuing a statement that said: "We fully support UEFA's position."
FA Calls for a Leadership Review
The FA went beyond merely backing UEFA, adding: "It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA's leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart."
This strong language reflected a broader unease among national associations about the direction FIFA was heading under Infantino's leadership.
Infantino Withdraws the Proposal
Under mounting pressure, Infantino confirmed the proposal would not proceed. In a statement, he acknowledged that the project had created unnecessary divisions.
"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," he said.
He further stated: "Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve." He then announced: "As a result, this proposal will not proceed."
Infantino Seeks Unity Ahead of 2027 Election
After pulling the plan, Infantino promised to work on rebuilding unity among football stakeholders. He said: "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."
Despite the controversy, reports indicate that Infantino intends to run for another term as FIFA president in the organisation's 2027 elections.
