Fifa president Gianni Infantino
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations, offering up to $40 million (£30 million) to those that support his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the governing body’s major competitions.
According to a five-page letter seen by the BBC on Wednesday, Infantino said member associations that approve the plan by September 19 would be eligible to receive an initial $20 million (£15 million) from January 1, 2027, with a further $20 million to follow.
The proposal involves the creation of a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would manage the organisation’s flagship competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup. External investors would be allowed to acquire minority stakes in the new company.
According to Infantino, the initiative could generate up to $10 billion (£7.52 billion) to expand funding for football development around the world.
