Premier League wades into FIFA row after Gianni Infantino's threat to sell World Cup

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The Premier League has publicly objected to Gianni Infantino's plan to sell off part of FIFA to private investors. He unveiled plans to launch a company called 'FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) which would bring the sale of FIFA's commercial rights together.

After going through his idea, the Premier League issued a statement backing the position laid out by the European Leagues, which firmly expressed its opposition to Infantino's plan. The top flight of English football wrote: "The Premier League is a founder member of the European Leagues and fully supports this statement."

The European Leagues issued a statement which read: "FIFA’s announcement that its President is pursuing private investment options for a new subsidiary, consolidating its commercial and event-related operations, represents a reckless and divisive development for world football. The World Cup should not be for sale.

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"It is not FIFA President’s private equity asset. Its value is created day in and day out by leagues, clubs, players and supporters who are being left without a voice or a vote on this matter. European Leagues firmly reject this proposal. Football’s success has always been built on a pyramidal open structure and the delicate balance between domestic and international football. Commercial opportunities must support these foundations, not risk altering them.

"This opaque process and unilateral proposal are part of a long-term pattern in FIFA’s decision-making – a pattern which prompted the European Leagues to lodge a complaint with the European Commission on the basis that FIFA’s imposition of decisions on the international match calendar constitutes an abuse of dominant position that violates European competition law.

"Proposals relating to calendar and competitions, should be developed through transparent, accountable and inclusive processes, with meaningful engagement and consent from all stakeholders whose interests are affected, as explicitly requested by the Court of Justice of the EU in its 2023 Super League ruling.

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"We have held productive meetings with the European Commission about this matter and have confidence that the legal decisions they take will continue to be in the best interests of fans and football communities.

"European Leagues will continue to work with UEFA to safeguard the long-term interests of the game. We have faith that Federations/National Associations around the world will do the same as they scrutinise this proposal from the FIFA President."

It's understood Infantino has informed all of FIFA's 211 member associations they must agree to his World Cup sell-off plan by September 19 if they want the funding, which is believed to be around £30m for the 2027-30 FIFA cycle, which will also include a one-off windfall of £15m in January next year.

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UEFA president Alexander Ceferin is expected to amass the European governing body's 55 member nations, amid calls for a mass boycott of FIFA in response to the plan. However, Czechian Football Association president David Trunda has already offered his support for Infantino's plan.

He said: "I can see the pragmatic benefits for Czech football from working in close co-operation with Gianni Infantino and his team. Of course we need more details, but my personal point of view is that I can see the positive impact of FIFA's intentions."

The proposal has received huge backing from Thrive Capital, who are part owned by Joshua Kusher whose brother Jared is the son-in-law of President Donald Trump.