Norwegian lawyer, former footballer, president of the Norwegian Football Federation
FIFA has proposed creating FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to sell minority, non‑controlling stakes in World Cup and commercial assets, seeking up to $4.2bn on a $20bn valuation while retaining majority control. UEFA and national bodies have condemned the proposal and threatened action; Norway is pursuing ethics complaints after FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun’s ban following a call from US President Donald Trump.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise plan has been abandoned after mounting opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC and member associations. Infantino’s push faced protests, resignations, and internal criticism, and FIFA has scrapped the private joint venture and related funding scheme.
Infantino has scrapped a plan to sell stakes in World Cup events after strong opposition from UEFA, AFC and Concacaf. Senior advisers have resigned, and critics say the move undermines FIFA’s leadership. The push now shifts to whether Infantino can survive his presidency amid looming calls for reform.
World Cup controversy surrounds Balogun’s suspended ban after a call from Donald Trump to FIFA president Infantino. The ban was suspended for 12 months, allowing Balogun to play in the last-16. European football bodies and critics say the decision undermines the game’s credibility ahead of 2027–31 reform talks.
FairSquare has filed complaints alleging Infantino breached political neutrality. The IOC Ethics Commission has said the complaints fall outside its jurisdiction, focusing instead on governance and sport rules within the respective bodies. The issue follows Trump-Infantino interactions during the 2026 World Cup and ongoing debates over neutrality in sport.