Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a controversial plan to bring private investment into World Cup funding after five days of intense criticism, culminating in Uefa saying it had “lost confidence” in his leadership. The dispute has revived comparisons with the failed European Super League, raising wider concerns about commercialisation, transparency and who controls football’s money.

Fifa, a not-for-profit body with reserves of more than $2bn (£1.48bn), is expected to report record World Cup-related revenues of about $15bn (£11.13bn). Under the proposal, national associations that signed up by 19 September could have received an additional $40m (£29.67m) for development, but critics questioned why private finance was necessary and said many senior Fifa figures had not been told about the plan.