‘The project has created divisions’: FIFA confirms sell-off plan scrapped following backlash

FIFA has confirmed it is scrapping a plan to sell a stake of its business to private investors, after international pressure from football powerbrokers.

World football’s governing body was lobbying for support from members to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup, but in a stunning backflip on Saturday, the FIFA President confirmed the plans would no longer be going ahead.

Gianni Infantino said in a statement: “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”

This comes after football powerbrokers had launched a revolt against the FIFA President in recent days and a senior advisor to the FIFA boss resigned with immediate effect overnight in protest.