French President Emmanuel Macron has stepped into the growing controversy surrounding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposed plan to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup, urging football leaders to preserve unity and protect the game’s global interests.
According to reports from France, President Macron held a telephone conversation with Infantino, during which he stressed the importance of maintaining the unity of world football, avoiding divisions among member associations, and strengthening international solidarity.
The French leader also spoke with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe as discussions over the controversial proposal continued to dominate the football world.
The controversy began after FIFA unveiled plans to create a new commercial entity and sell a stake in the future revenues of the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
The proposal was intended to raise billions of dollars to support football development worldwide, but it sparked widespread criticism from football governing bodies, leagues and stakeholders, who argued that the World Cup should not be treated as a commercial asset.
European football governing body UEFA led the opposition, warning that the proposal threatened the integrity and governance of the sport.
Several confederations and national associations also expressed concerns over the lack of consultation before the plan was announced, with some even threatening legal action or a boycott of FIFA competitions.
Following the intense backlash, Infantino announced that FIFA had abandoned the proposal, admitting that the plan had created divisions within the global football community and that unity must take priority.
