The Pulse Today
BREAKING
Sajib Pledges Aid for 50,000 Flood-Affected People in SonargaonMP Azharul Islam Mannan Distributes Relief Funds to Needy Families in SonargaonParliament Proposes Anti-Gambling Bill with Maximum 7-Year Prison PenaltyOpenAI Unveils 'Schedule' Feature to Boost Task Management in AI ChatbotPrime Minister Tareq Rahman Arrives in Dalian, China for Economic ForumEurope Confronts Intense Heatwave; Conditions Predicted to DeteriorateGold Prices Rise Again in Bangladesh Amid Global Market IncreaseSpaceX's Nasdaq Debut Values Company at Over $2 Trillion, Surpassing AmazonStudy Reveals AI Data Centers Contribute to Local Temperature IncreasesNarayanganj BNP Youth Wing Holds Rally to Welcome New Central CommitteeBangladesh Announces Major Tech Investment to Modernize Healthcare SystemPrime Minister Tarique Rahman Orders Measures to Boost Agricultural Production and Reduce Import DependenceNazim Highlights Kaptai Lake's Crucial Role in CHT LivelihoodsThousands Rally in Nairobi to Protest Kenya's President RutoFrench Interior Minister Calls for Caution Amid Investigation of Train DerailmentBangladesh Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal Celebrates 48th Anniversary in RajshahiUS House Speaker Cautions Against Over-Regulating AI Amid China Tech CompetitionShama Obaed Islam urges France to increase investment in Bangladesh's key sectorsStandard Chartered Organizes Financial Markets Leadership Forum in BangladeshMirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Advocates for Robust Democracy in BangladeshUN Reports Nearly 86,000 Yemenis Displaced by Houthi-Government FightingCelebrating Syed Mujtaba Ali’s 122nd Birth Anniversary: Honoring a Bengali Literary IconBangladesh Aims to Reset Bilateral Relationship with India, Says Humaiun KobirDhaka Stock Exchange Sees Continued Decline Amid Growing Investor ConcernsBangladesh President Urges Enhanced Bilateral Relations with Pakistan

Infantino's FIFA Leadership Challenged as Key Allies Criticize Abandoned World Cup Plan

Pressure mounts on FIFA president Gianni Infantino as key allies, including Arsene Wenger and Mattias Grafstrom, distance themselves from his controversial World Cup investment plan.

By Staff Correspondent
Share
Infantino's problems mount as Wenger and key FIFA ally turn on him | Sports
BSS

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces mounting pressure as key allies turn against him following the abandonment of his controversial proposal to open the World Cup to private investment. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, appointed by Infantino as FIFA's chief of global football development, and secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom have both publicly criticized the plan, signaling a significant loss of confidence within the organization.

Infantino's Proposal and Its Fallout

Infantino proposed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial subsidiary that would manage events like the World Cup and Club World Cup, aiming to raise up to $4.2 billion. The plan was met with widespread condemnation, leading UEFA to threaten a boycott of all FIFA competitions. By Saturday, Infantino announced the plan's withdrawal, but the damage was done.

Internal and External Criticism

Wenger stated that withdrawing the project was 'absolutely necessary and beyond question.' Grafstrom, in an internal email, described the fiasco as 'a sad and reproachable series of events,' distancing himself from Infantino. Additionally, UEFA's lawyer Andrew Levander sent a letter threatening legal action over the 'shabby, backroom, opaque deal.'

The fallout has seen several UEFA member associations withdraw their support for Infantino, and Prince Ali bin Hussein accused FIFA of 'blackmail.' The 11 World Cup host cities in the United States are also chasing legacy payments promised by FIFA.

Source: BSS

Topics

Comments

Related stories

More in Sports

See all →

Latest stories