Infantino calls executive meeting as criticism mounts

Core Impact Points

• FIFA's president Gianni Infantino planned to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events with external investors.
• The plan was met with criticism from UEFA, which threatened to boycott all FIFA tournaments, and from FIFA's own officials, including secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.
• Arsene Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, has backed the decision to scrap the plan, citing the need for transparency and integrity in FIFA's decision-making.
• The plan would have allowed external investors to buy stakes in FIFA's main events, including the World Cup, and would have given FIFA's 211 member associations $40m each if they backed the proposal.
• The decision to scrap the plan is seen as a victory for those who oppose the commercialization of football and the influence of external investors on FIFA's decision-making.
• The controversy surrounding the plan has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in FIFA's decision-making processes.