Richard Masters, the chief executive of the English Premier League, has issued strong criticism against Gianni Infantino, the president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Masters asserts that Infantino’s proposed ‘Future of Football Estates/Equity’ (FFE) project, which involves the controversial sale of World Cup shares to external investors, amounts to a ‘self-inflicted wound’ for the global football governing body.
Infantino is currently embroiled in a significant dispute with several major continental football confederations, including UEFA (Europe), AFC (Asia), and CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean), as he strives to maintain his position as FIFA president. UEFA, European football’s governing body, has emerged as one of the strongest and most vocal opponents of the FFE proposal.
Adding to the growing pressure, the English Football Association (FA) has also publicly announced its decision to withdraw its support for the Swiss national in his bid to remain FIFA president, further isolating Infantino.
Masters reiterated his concerns, stating that the FFE project is a problem entirely of FIFA’s own making. He elaborated on his stance, asserting, “This is a problem of FIFA’s own making. It is a self-inflicted wound. The international football governing body has, in essence, pressed a self-destruct button, and numerous crises and challenges are now converging, demanding swift resolution. In my view, FIFA should not be contemplating the sale of World Cup shares.”
The Premier League CEO also commended the English FA’s decision to distance itself from the embattled FIFA President amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the FFE plan.
Looking ahead, Richard Masters suggested that the upcoming FIFA presidential election for the new term should feature additional candidates to challenge the incumbent. He believes that a broader pool of contenders could be a crucial step towards resolving the organizational challenges FIFA is currently facing.
Previously, UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC had collectively called for Infantino’s resignation, asserting their continued lack of confidence despite apologies from the FIFA president. In a joint letter, these three powerful continental federations emphasized that ‘football is not for any single individual,’ and that ‘if trust is lost, then the individual’s duty must also be relinquished,’ underscoring their firm opposition to Infantino’s leadership and policies.
