FIFA have made an official U-turn, announcing that the FIFA Forward Enterprise project — the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors led by Joshua Kushner that triggered a crisis with UEFA — "will not be taken forward".
"After listening carefully to all points of view, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of such a nature that, regardless of the level of support, it is no longer in the interest of the objective set out. Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve," read the statement signed by president Gianni Infantino.
"From now on," Infantino added, "my goal, in the coming days and weeks, will be to reunite all stakeholders, in the spirit of a common interest for our sport and with the aim of continuing to grow football everywhere, particularly in those countries that need our support the most."
The climbdown comes after the boycott voted by UEFA's 55 member federations and the opposition of AFC, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, as well as the resignation of advisor Carlos Cordeiro and a call from COO Kevin Lamour for Infantino to be removed. The project had been conceived to raise fresh capital for FIFA's development programmes by selling a stake in World Cup commercial rights, but it quickly united the confederations against the governing body.
Sources
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