Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell off part of the World Cup has backfired after his friend and ally Donald Trump denied all knowledge of the FIFA president’s disastrous plot to try and sell off the World Cup to private investors.
Infantino had devised a $20 billion commercial subsidiary plan, backed by Joshua Kushner – whose brother Jared is the US Special Envoy for Peace and married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
Trump, for his part, has now denied ever speaking to Infantino about it happening when asked on Friday.
Journalist asked ‘did Mr Infantino speak to you about his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup?’ Trump brutally first replied: ‘Who?’
After the question was repeated, the president then added: ‘No, I didn’t speak to him.’
On social media, fans were quick to poke fun at Infantino, with one writing: ‘Gianni Infantino is officially Tom Hanks on Cast Away, alone on [an] island with a ball. It’s over.’
Another added: ‘Under the bus you go, Infantino.’ Late on Friday night, Infantino abandoned his bombshell proposals to inject private equity into the operational and commercial aspects of FIFA tournaments.
His humiliating backtrack came thanks to the heroics of UEFA, CONCACAF, the AFC and two members of the FIFA hierarchy, who all took a stand against his divisive plans.
The AFC, Asia’s governing body, were the third and final confederation to reject Infantino’s proposal.
Their resistance made it clear he did not have the support to proceed, as opposing nations rose to a staggering 135 – 64 per cent of the FIFA membership.
