UK Prime Minister calls for FIFA president’s removal over $4.2B commercial entity plan

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be replaced, taking direct aim at the governing body’s plan to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary valued at roughly $20 billion. At the center of the dispute is FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, a newly created commercial entity through which Infantino plans to sell up to 20% in minority stakes. The target: raising approximately $4.2 billion, which FIFA says would fund grassroots and women’s football development worldwide. Burnham declared that “football does not belong to investors” and that “the World Cup is not a product.” The FFE plan and its growing opposition Infantino announced the FFE initiative in late July 2026, framing it as what he called a “singular and unique funding opportunity” for the sport’s development at all levels. Member federations were given until September 19 to evaluate the funding offers on the table. UEFA has gone beyond mere criticism, reportedly hinting at potential boycotts in response to FIFA’s commercialization push. Burnham posted his criticism of FIFA’s plans on social media around July 28-29, 2026, adding a geopolitical dimension to what was already a...