Federations push for transparency after Infantino drops Cup sale

On Saturday, the German Football Association (DFB) and England’s FA publicly rebuked FIFA president Gianni Infantino after he withdrew his proposal to sell the rights to the World Cup (Coupe) to private investors, accusing him of acting irresponsibly and demanding greater transparency from the global governing body.

The withdrawn project aimed to open international competitions, notably the World Cup, to private investors, a plan that Infantino later abandoned.

Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Federation (Fédération), told AFP that Infantino "acted irresponsibly" and "acted unilaterally, without transparency", adding that the move was "irresponsible in view of football's interests".

Neuendorf also called for a "complete inquiry" into the project's development and demanded a "fundamental cultural change" within FIFA to restore confidence.

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The English FA responded by urging a "thorough and rigorous examination of FIFA's direction and governance" to ensure that global football is managed transparently.

The FA reiterated its stance on its official X account, stating, "We fully support UEFA's position" and emphasizing the need for member‑led decision making.

French FA president Philippe Diallo described the proposal as "worrying" and noted that France is eyeing the World Cups in 2038 or 2042, while highlighting that the DFB and FA are among the 55 UEFA members standing against the plan.

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Both the DFB and FA back UEFA's call for a different culture at FIFA, one where decisions are discussed and taken by members within governing bodies.

The criticism, highlighted by Icon Sport and FifaAujourd'hui, underscores a growing demand for accountability and cultural reform in football's global administration.