Former FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino's abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, calling the proposal "ludicrous". Boyce emphasized that FIFA should focus on the interests of football fans rather than investors.

FIFA had proposed raising up to $4.2 billion by selling approximately 20% of a new entity overseeing FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. This plan faced strong opposition, notably from UEFA, which threatened to boycott FIFA events and accused FIFA of putting the sport's "soul" up for sale.

Boyce told Reuters, "There's no way that this should be sold to investors. If you invest, you're looking to make money out of that investment. FIFA is a non-profit organisation. To promote football throughout the world, they don't need outside investors."

He added that the episode has left FIFA with considerable work to restore trust. "The average football fan has been sickened by what has happened. They are willing to see what repair work is going to be done," Boyce said.

Infantino announced in April his intention to seek a fourth term as FIFA president, with the vote scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18, 2027. Boyce noted, "He's got eight months where somehow he's got to get the credibility back. He's got to get the credibility back within, obviously, the member associations."

FIFA had argued that selling a minority stake in its commercial operations would generate billions of dollars to support soccer development worldwide and accused the media of mischaracterising the proposal.

Boyce concluded, "The president of FIFA is a very high-ranking position. And now, if he wants to retain his position, he's got to start the repair work caused by the damage from what I can only describe as a ludicrous suggestion."

Sources