What do we all think?

As I write FIFA's Infantino has put forward his plan to sell off 20% of FIFA's commercial activity to private equity (with a Kushner allegedly involved in an interested fund). In return, provided it's voted through by Sep 19th, all federations get $40m over the next 4 years.

However, UEFA have gone nuclear with a totally opposed world view, and have pulled all European 55 teams from FIFA competitions until the plan is killed stone dead for good. General opinion, certainly in Europe, seems overwhelmingly in favour of UEFA. The N American and Asian football federations have also come out in general opposition following on from UEFA.

Is Infantino's time up? What next for world football?

he's always been evil but i can't believe he was stupid enough to try to ram this through just before he's up for re-election

Bravo UEFA!

This is how Electronic Arts should've also been stopped, but no one has backbone in gaming industry

10 minutes ago, gelato said:

he's always been evil but i can't believe he was stupid enough to try to ram this through just before he's up for re-election

Perhaps he knows he's cooked and wants to go out with a bag of money. The investor groups would be very grateful if he gets this through.

8 minutes ago, gelato said:

he's always been evil but i can't believe he was stupid enough to try to ram this through just before he's up for re-election

Yes the timing and methodology was spectacular in its ineptness, right down to the artificial deadline for voting.

I'm thinking they were trying to catch Europe on the beach in peak holiday season (though it appears the plans spilled out early because of some decent journalism).

Personally, I think the whole thing reveals a deep divide between American and European ( with some others too) thinking on what sports are, and how the background to the commercial side works and should work in a regulatory framework. There seems to have been precisely zero lessons learned from the whole European Super League fiasco of a few years back.

I suspect it's likely to cost Infantino his job.

3 minutes ago, Bloodflowers. said:

Bravo UEFA!

This is how Electronic Arts should've also been stopped, but no one has backbone in gaming industry

Indeed take a bow UEFA. An utterly devastating press release yesterday combined with decisive and in all probability very effective action. Praise be!

Even Ukraine and Russia are on the same page.

Infantino's senior advisor quit after all the mess.

8 minutes ago, Vermouth said:

Yes the timing and methodology was spectacular in its ineptness, right down to the artificial deadline for voting.

I'm thinking they were trying to catch Europe on the beach in peak holiday season (though it appears the plans spilled out early because of some decent journalism).

Personally, I think the whole thing reveals a deep divide between American and European ( with some others too) thinking on what sports are, and how the background to the commercial side works and should work in a regulatory framework. There seems to have been precisely zero lessons learned from the whole European Super League fiasco of a few years back.

I suspect it's likely to cost Infantino his job.

I agree there's a divide between US private equity and the rest of the world on sports, but to be fair to Concacaf they also think it's a horrible idea

1 minute ago, gelato said:

I agree there's a divide between US private equity and the rest of the world on sports, but to be fair to Concacaf they also think it's a horrible idea

Yes Concacaf have spoken out now, as have Asia, which is good.

Somehow Kushner is always there somewhere in the background of every mess in recent years.

can this greedy assholes never have enough? it's always more more more

This is one of the reasons why the WC never should have happened in that disgustingly greedy capitalistic shithole of a country.

Anyway, glad to see all the FAs are rejecting this so far. I hope Infantino loses his job and dies too. Bald *****.

Respect to the UEFA Enough with trying to take over everything

Great. Now that Infantino's most personal hoe has stepped down, he's next on the list.

41 minutes ago, Khal said:

This is one of the reasons why the WC never should have happened in that disgustingly greedy capitalistic shithole of a country.

Anyway, glad to see all the FAs are rejecting this so far. I hope Infantino loses his job and dies too. Bald *****.

It certainly puts a darker spin in my mind on the hydration breaks/halftime show/ red card being rescinded/ dodgy refereeing &VAR because you can now see a plausible financial motive. Now that's not to say that's what happened here but like Ceasar's wife the competition has to be seen as purer than pure otherwise its whole validity goes out of the window.

I certainly don't want the US anywhere near hosting this event again given all that's happened over the past few weeks.

infantino is one of the ugliest bald men i have ever seen. i truly hope he is out of FIFA asap and i never have to see that hideous man again.

Hanging out with Trump so much got into Infantino's bald head the way he quickly became the most hated person in football

Glad that the federations had some morals and rebuked this. Now that kick him out

6 hours ago, Khal said:

This is one of the reasons why the WC never should have happened in that disgustingly greedy capitalistic shithole of a country.

Anyway, glad to see all the FAs are rejecting this so far. I hope Infantino loses his job and dies too. Bald *****.

U mean that Taliban Christian ISIS terror state called the United States of America? - I agree.

For red card-Trump-call mess the US should be thrown out for 500 years from competing in the world cup or any international football event.

Imagine a FIFA World Cup with all the UEFA teams missing... lol. FIFA should know that it is Europe which makes them all the money... by devoted fans who are buying tickets, merch, shirts etc... on top of getting like 300 million real time viewers across the continent.

3 hours ago, ONOPKA said:

infantino is one of the ugliest bald men i have ever seen. i truly hope he is out of FIFA asap and i never have to see that hideous man again.

The next FIFA boss is going to be worse... they continually vote in worse people. They can miss 2 steps and make Trump FIFA president for life next.

6 hours ago, Terylee said:

Inevitable, as soon as UEFA flexed its real power. It's now also "lost confidence" in Infantino. He's toast, just a matter of how long.

Noises being made in Europe about reforming the structures of FIFA too, which translates to they've had enough of micro states with dodgy football associations dictating to them when they're the ones actually creating the cash.

I sympathise totally. Tournaments in deserts at the wrong time of year, with obscene stadium construction beyond any sustainable long term needs, dynamic pricing, peace prizes, 27 minute long half time nonsense, hydration advert breaks in air conditioning , and presidential interference to get suspensions rescinded for host nations. I think Europe's just had enough of it all without major reform, and hopefully will continue to threaten to walk away to get some sense knocked into some heads.

Latest update: Infantino had a meeting in Morocco with some FIFA officials present, issued a statement essentially saying was sorry about the part sell off issues.

UEFA responded today with their own statement saying this didn't address their issues enough, boycott of FIFA events still stands, and they reiterated no confidence in Infantino.

Essentially looking like Infantino walks away or UEFA does. Don't think he can survive in his job, personally.

Bigger question is what will UEFA demand by the way of reformed governance going forwards?