FIFA’s Infantino sought Trump backing after World Cup selloff plan: Report

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino turned to Donald Trump to save his job amid revolt against World Cup privatisation plan. FIFA President Gianni Infantino sought support from the administration of US President Donald Trump amid mounting criticism ⁠after his abandoned plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights, the New York Post reported on Monday, citing sources familiar ⁠with the matter. The Post said that Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone since the proposal collapsed on Friday, ⁠and that the FIFA chief felt “isolated” by an avalanche of negative media coverage. Criticism has intensified over Infantino’s failed plan to spin off the world football governing body’s commercial assets into a new entity backed by private investors. FIFA’s plan to unlock up to $4.2bn from private investors by selling a roughly 20 percent stake in a new entity overseeing competitions including the World Cup ended in retreat on Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders.

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