After massive criticism, the world football association FIFA is quickly putting an end to its controversial investor plans. Association President Gianni Infantino made an official statement on Saturday night. After the abrupt about-face, the international media write:
England
“Daily Mail”: “FIFA President Gianni Infantino is making an embarrassing U-turn on plans to market the World Cup. The under-pressure boss admits that these have “caused division” and now hopes to reunite football. (…) Gianni Infantino has one suffered a humiliating defeat.”
“Guardian”: “Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors has failed spectacularly. In the face of global outrage, the FIFA president admitted that the project had “caused divisions that no longer served the actual goal.” The plan had caused violent unrest in the football world around the world and prompted UEFA to boycott future FIFA tournaments if the plan is not abandoned.”
“Telegraph”: “Gianni Infantino has scrapped his £15bn plan to sell shares in the World Cup – a result of widespread opposition and turmoil within FIFA’s ranks.”
“Sun”: “Faced with global outrage, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has scrapped the plans, His plan to sell part of a new subsidiary responsible for the World Cup failed due to UEFA’s boycott threat and a “brand nightmare” for potential investors Privatization of the World Cup, Infantino had to backtrack. The pressure on the FIFA President was already enormous.”
“As”: “A global setback for the FIFA President. (…) It was only a matter of time before Infantino’s absurd idea failed, especially after the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, FIFA’s chief advisor. UEFA led the resistance – and now Infantino has lost the fight.”
“El País”: “Football with its millions of fans has triumphed over external actors, FIFA has lost. At least for now, its plan to privatize the World Cup has failed. Gianni Infantino, president of the world football association, announced early Saturday morning from FIFA headquarters in Switzerland that his proposal would not be pursued further.”
Switzerland
“Blick”: “Infantino is cowering after an uprising. (…) FIFA boss Gianni Infantino is making a rare backtrack. After strong criticism from almost all continental associations, the FIFA president is withdrawing his controversial billion-euro plans. (…) In view of the united front, Infantino was now forced to row back. An unusual backtrack for the Valais native, who in recent years has mostly been able to push through his plans without major resistance.”
France
“L’Equipe”: “With his plan to sell part of the World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has faced more resistance than ever before. Since his election as president of the world football association in 2016, Infantino’s position has never been so shaken. The association is now in crisis. UEFA’s hard line – the threat of a boycott – against his plan to sell shares in the World Cup has Leadership of world football destabilized.”
“Le Parisien”: “Under pressure, Gianni Infantino gave up his plan for private investors in FIFA. He was exposed to massive criticism.”
Italy
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “Stop now! Reason has prevailed. Gianni Infantino is rowing with its attempt to “privatize” international football and is officially putting the FIFA Forward Enterprise project on hold. This project has outraged half the world in the last few hours.”
“Corriere della Serra”: “Infantino rows back: After protests, FIFA announces that it will withdraw from its plan to sell the World Cup to private investors. The U-turn was caused by the boycott threat from UEFA and the determined resistance of the Asian and American football associations.”