Uefa planning to check if Infantino tried to sell stakes in World Cup on cheap
Uefa is planning to commission an independent valuation of Fifa's abandoned World Cup sale plans, amid concerns that president Gianni Infantino agreed to sell future tournament profits to a private equity firm at below market value. The European body remains unmoved by Infantino's written apology to Fifa's 211 member associations and intends to keep pressing for his removal, using scrutiny of the deal as one of its tactics after he conceded the proposal was "a mistake."
The scrapped Fifa Forward Enterprise plan would have sold a 21% stake to Thrive Capital, led by Joshua Kushner, for $4.2bn, based on a $20bn valuation of Fifa's commercial assets. Uefa, which helped force the U-turn after all 55 member associations threatened a boycott, is questioning how that figure was reached, noting Fifa's revenues for the last four-year cycle were $15bn and that the deal appeared not to price in future expansion such as more teams or tournaments. Uefa has also called for a wider governance review and threatened legal action, while Fifa insists Infantino retains its "full support" despite internal criticism from senior figures including secretary general Mattias Grafström and Arsène Wenger.
- Uefa to seek independent valuation of Fifa's scrapped World Cup stake sale
- Deal would have sold 21% stake to Thrive Capital for $4.2bn
- Uefa still pushing for Infantino's removal despite his apology
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
UEFA's concerns about the valuation warrant serious examination because Fifa's revenues were $15bn over four years whilst Infantino valued assets at $20bn without apparently accounting for expansion potential that should increase value. Even Infantino himself admitted it was a mistake, and internal criticism from Arsène Wenger and senior figures alongside member boycott threats suggest potential mismanagement that demands independent scrutiny to protect FIFA's interests and ensure proper governance standards.
The case against
Complex commercial valuations involve reasonable disagreements about assumptions, growth projections, and risk factors; a 21% minority stake legitimately sells at a different valuation than full assets. The deal was abandoned before implementation and Infantino acknowledged the error, yet ongoing threats of removal and legal action over a scrapped proposal may be disproportionate and could discourage necessary risk-taking in strategic business decisions.