American businessman and venture capitalist; Thrive Capital founder
European officials have demanded written responses from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, seeking details on a secretive $4.2 billion World Cup plan and other governance issues. The request, due by Nov. 2, comes as a broader push to scrutinize decisions ahead of the March presidential election.
Norway's football federation has said it will ask its board to consider filing an ethics complaint to FIFA over the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s automatic one‑match World Cup ban after a phone call from US President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The IOC has also said it will not open a probe because the complaint falls outside its remit.
European football bodies are voicing strong concerns as FIFA presses ahead with plans to create a private-investor vehicle to run World Cup rights. UEFA warns of a boycott, while governments and fans ask who benefits from the staged investment, and how development funds will be distributed.
Fifa has proposed creating a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to run the World Cup and other events, with external investors able to buy up to 20% stakes. Fifa would retain control and use capital to fund development, while reacting to European football bodies’ criticism that this risks the game’s soul.
FIFA plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run the World Cup and related events, offering up to 20% stake to external investors. The move has drawn swift criticism from UEFA, Concacaf and other bodies for governance concerns and lack of consultation, while FIFA argues the plan would unlock billions for global football development.
FIFA has unveiled a $20 billion subsidiary to run World Cup rights, offering 20% stakes to private investors. UEFA and other confederations decry the move as dangerous for football, with potential funding promises to member associations. The plan has triggered swift political and sporting backlash as the global football community weighs the risks and rewards.
FIFA has proposed a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to run the World Cup and related events, offering up to 20% minority stakes to private investors. FIFA would keep control but plans to raise up to $4.2 billion. CONCACAF, AFC, UEFA and others have criticised the move for a lack of consultation and governance concerns amid a global backlash.
Continental bodies including UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC are opposing FIFA's plan to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise and sell a stake, arguing it compromises governance and the sport’s integrity. The pushback comes as preparations for potential further actions, including a boycott, intensify.
UEFA and 55 member federations are boycotting FIFA competitions in protest against Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. FIFA has offered $20 million to each of its 211 members, with a mid-September deadline to accept. The proposal includes spinning off FIFA’s commercial operations into a $20 billion entity, with a core investor led by a New York firm founded by Joshua Kushner. The next World Cup is in Europe, the Women’s Under-20 World Cup will be held in Poland starting Sept. 5.
Senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro has resigned, arguing that FIFA’s plan to sell up to 20% of a new entity that would run World Cups and other events is a bad deal for football. The resignation comes amid backlash from UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC, who say the process lacks transparency and could reshape football’s future.
FIFA has scrapped the Forward Enterprises plan after mounting opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC and member associations. Infantino’s private venture faced resignations and internal criticism, leading FIFA to terminate the project and reaffirm a commitment to open consultation.
FIFA has scrapped its $20 billion private-equity plan to spin off commercial operations after boycotts and resignations from key figures. UEFA and other confederations have condemned the move, stressing governance and integrity in football.
FIFA has scrapped its plan to sell a minority stake in World Cup assets after broad, global backlash. UEFA and other confederations had threatened boycotts and demand reforms. The leadership faces renewed scrutiny as talks to rebuild trust begin.
UEFA has demanded that FIFA preserve data related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan after a controversy sparked a global furore. A Dechert letter names 18 FIFA executives and warns that destroying or altering materials may constitute spoliation of evidence. Infantino’s bid appears endangered as UEFA signals a possible end to his presidency.
The plan to unlock up to $4.2bn by selling a 20% stake in a new entity overseeing FIFA competitions has ended in retreat after stakeholder resistance. Infantino faces renewed scrutiny as he seeks a fourth term, with several federations withdrawing support.
FIFA has scrapped its controversial plan to create a for-profit subsidiary to manage World Cup rights and related revenue, after backing from many member federations. The move follows a backlash over private investment and subsequent pledges to review leadership amid questions about the federation’s direction.
A travel feature on Yerevan, Armenia, exploring Republic Square, the Dancing Fountains show, and the city’s heritage from Tamanian’s design to recent tourism growth linked to direct flights from London.
FIFA has apologised for the mishandling of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and confirms the project is off the table. UEFA, CONCACAF and others are pressing for governance reforms as Infantino faces sustained criticism ahead of the 2027 election.
European football bodies keep pressure on Gianni Infantino after the aborted FFE plan. UEFA has lost confidence and a broad boycott threat remains in motion; multiple confederations express opposition or support as the 2027 election nears.
The Norwegian Football Federation has called for Gianni Infantino to resign amid fallout from his bid to privatize the World Cup via the FIFA Forward Enterprise. UEFA maintains its boycott threat and several European federations have withdrawn support as Infantino seeks re-election next March.
European federations have threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over Infantino’s proposals, with Uefa testing the stance as the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup approaches. The dispute risks cascading into women’s and youth tournaments.
Canada and the United States have resumed intensive talks to avert steep US tariffs that could take effect this week. Ottawa has offered concessions, including removing a retaliatory auto tariff, while Washington has pressed provinces to lift bans on US alcohol and pushed demands on market access and content rules for autos. Negotiators are still finalising details.
Nvidia has announced memorandums with six Wall Street firms to assemble about $500 billion to finance AI infrastructure — data centres, GPU clusters and related compute — for customers that lack cash or credit. Executives are pitching compute as an investable asset class while analysts warn depreciation risk and competition from China could erode collateral value.
President Trump has publicly backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino after UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC accused him of "breaking trust through deception" over a shelved plan to sell stakes in a new commercial arm. Infantino has retained support from CAF and CONMEBOL while several national federations have withdrawn endorsement ahead of the 2027 election.
Barclays has analysed five tech shakeups to identify traits of surviving software firms. Winners tend to have healthy margins, strong cash flow, low debt, and high productivity, allowing them to adapt amid industry shifts. The study suggests financial strength and operational discipline may outpace rapid growth in guiding resilience.
OpenAI unveils a privacy-centric safety monitoring approach, while Anthropic maintains a 30-day data retention policy for its covered models, prompting enterprise concerns and competitive tension in the AI safety space.
Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter in a transaction valuing the franchise at about $12.5 billion. The sale has been announced this week, requires approval from the NBA Board of Governors and is subject to due diligence and Kushners divestment of a Miami Heat stake.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing intensified scrutiny as UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC demand accountability over a private-investment plan for World Cup assets. CAF backs Infantino, while Ireland withdraws support amid governance concerns. Motsepe says decisions should come from elections, not behind closed doors.
The global football federation is confronting a fracturing alliance as three major confederations call for a review of Gianni Infantino’s leadership amid a shelved plan to sell World Cup commercial rights; New Zealand withdraws support, while Caf and Conmebol back Infantino for a fourth term. The next months will determine Infantino’s fate at the Rabat congress.
Infantino is facing a leadership crisis as CONCACAF, UEFA and AFC push for his resignation amid a failed World Cup privatization plan. He is meeting Dominican officials while allies seek to rally support and counter moves to unseat him ahead of the March 2021 presidential election. FIFA has not commented on ongoing requests for change.
European football federations convene in Monaco as UEFA seeks assurances after Infantino's investor plan was aborted. The talks aim to prevent a boycott, clear the path for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, and set a course for Infantino’s re-election battle in March 2027.
TWG Global faces federal investigations into affiliated-party loans across its insurers, prompting questions about liquidity and potential impacts on its sports assets, including the Dodgers and Lakers. The company denies fraud and reiterates that its major franchises are not for sale, as regulators review financing and related transactions.
Buss siblings vote to sell Lakers stake; Jeanie Buss seeks court order to block the sale and preserve her governance role. The dispute centers on a 17.8% family stake valued at about $12.5 billion, with legal fights looming over fiduciary duties and 2017 court orders.
Josh Kushner has issued his first public statement on the collapsed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, saying he still supports its aims but would not have invested had he known how the process would unfold. UEFA has filed US court papers seeking document production and depositions from Kushner and Thrive as it prepares possible criminal mismanagement claims against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
UEFA has escalated pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino after revealing a criminal mismanagement complaint in Switzerland related to a failed bid to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The move follows a broader backlash from FIFA member bodies amid concerns over a $4.2 billion investment plan that would have paid out to federations. Infantino has not indicated he will step down, and election remains scheduled for March 2027.
The KNVB has stated it no longer has confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and is calling for a broader governance overhaul. It proposes an International Summit to decide what kind of FIFA the world wants, ahead of Infantino’s 2027 re-election. AP News reports similar concerns among UEFA members, while discussions involve potential changes to distribution and decision-making structures.
The FFF has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino amid concerns over FIFA’s governance and plans to sell World Cup stakes. UEFA and other confederations join in pressing for reform as Infantino plans to stand again in 2027.
FIFA President has reaffirmed plans to seek a fourth term in 2027 despite mounting criticism from UEFA and other confederations over the failed FFE plan to privatise World Cup profits. Nominations close 18 November ahead of the Rabat congress.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has faced renewed scrutiny as FairSquare’s complaints persist, with European bodies pressing for transparency and a fresh external review of the FFE plan. UEFA and others are seeking documents, while Infantino remains intent on a fourth term, with candidacies due next month.
Chelsea Football Club's ownership moves to full control by Clearlake Capital as Todd Boehly and Mark Walter exit their stakes. Wyss remains a stakeholder; Chelsea reiterates no change to day-to-day operations while pursuing long-term sporting and infrastructure ambitions.
New ownership has outlined aggressive plans to lift the Lakers’ value to $30 billion within a decade, backed by higher ticketing, media rights and international growth. The sale from the Buss family to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger has triggered a valuation surge and renewed speculation about the franchise’s long-term health.