FIFA faces fresh transparency calls after retreat on World Cup sell-off plan

Aug 1 : FIFA faced renewed calls for transparency on Saturday after it abruptly shelved plans to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup, a proposal that triggered fierce backlash from regional confederations that said they had been blindsided.

The swift reversal has exposed growing unease within world soccer over FIFA President Gianni Infantino's leadership style, with football officials demanding greater oversight of decisions that could reshape the governance and commercial future of the sport.

The backlash has also raised questions about Infantino's political capital as he prepares to seek another term in office.

FIFA's plan was to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20 per cent stake to private investors in a new unit that would run FIFA events, including the World Cup. 

The plan, announced on Tuesday, quickly ran into a storm of opposition from regional confederations, which complained they had not been consulted on a move that could alter the commercial structure of world football.

Following the backlash, Infantino said world soccer's governing body had abandoned the plans after listening "carefully to all the views".

The Asian Football Confederation's President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa on Saturday welcomed FIFA's reversal.

Bahrain's Sheikh Salman wrote he expects "any initiative that has the potential to impact global football will be presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner."

"The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game."

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