FIFA Fo Fum

The World Cup shine didn’t last long.

On Friday, FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino yelled “reverse! reverse!” on a plan to sell private investors 20% of a proposed for-profit spinoff, FIFA Forward Enterprise. The spinoff would run global football’s “under-monetized” commercial operations, with all 211 national teams receiving $20M up front… then lots more.

The footballin’ federations from Europe (UEFA), the Americas (CONCACAF) and Asia (AFC) threatened boycotts, claiming Tuesday’s unilateral announcement was made through “secret schemes on fast-track timescales” and failed to put “football first.”

This is the Infantino team’s third failed big-money plan, putting soccer’s president on thin ice grass after UEFA expressed “no confidence” in his leadership and his senior advisor resigned, saying the deal would be “mortgaging football’s future.” March 2027 is the next election, and Infantino will run opposed for the first time.

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Verse to consider when you’re wondering if it’s time to stand up to stop a deal or to support a cause… “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 (CSB) (read full passage)