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Gianni Infantino's leadership of FIFA has been "badly shaken" after the president was forced into a dramatic U-turn and abandoned his controversial proposal to sell commercial shares in the World Cup. The climbdown came after a fierce backlash and threats of a boycott from European football.

Infantino drops controversial proposal

Infantino has formally withdrawn his contentious plan to sell commercial shares in the World Cup after widespread criticism. The move represents a significant setback for the FIFA president, with senior figures in the sport saying his leadership has been "badly shaken".

The disputed proposal involved setting up a subsidiary company to manage the commercial and operational side of major international tournaments, including both the men's and women's World Cups. However, three continental confederations rejected the idea outright, while UEFA warned that European nations could boycott FIFA events if the plan went ahead.

Confirming the reversal early on Saturday, Infantino admitted the project had caused serious internal division. "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions... As a result, this proposal will not proceed," Infantino said.

Internal turmoil and top-level resignations

The proposal sparked unprecedented institutional turmoil inside FIFA's headquarters in Zurich and led to high-profile departures. According to Independent, Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour both resigned in protest over the commercial strategy.

In a strongly worded exit statement, Lamour described the venture as "a project of one person". Political figures also criticised the move, with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling the commercial scheme "outrageous" and saying Infantino was "the wrong man to lead the organisation."

Despite the humiliating retreat, Infantino has insisted that his main focus remains on reuniting the global governing bodies of the sport. He confirmed plans to bring stakeholders together in the coming weeks in an effort to refocus on growing the game worldwide.

UEFA raises questions over Infantino's future

The dramatic failure of the investment plan has left Infantino under heavy scrutiny over his long-term future. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister said confidence in the FIFA president had been seriously damaged.

"I think trust in the president of FIFA has been badly shaken this week, without a doubt," McAllister said. "Quite rightly, people will ask questions about whether he is the leader to take us forward as a global football organisation... Interestingly, I don't think the sport of football is damaged by what's happened this week. I think FIFA as an organisation is, and I think the president is."

Asked whether UEFA could support a challenger against Infantino in future elections, McAllister said: "I think all of the confederations would be considering options now for sure, and we'll certainly be doing that in UEFA."

What next for global football?

With the privatisation proposal now officially dead, FIFA must rebuild strained relationships across world football. European football leaders are expected to assess the situation closely as they consider Infantino's governance going forward. While Infantino is trying to restore unity and move ahead with regular development initiatives, the institutional damage caused by the episode could remain for months. The affair stands as one of the most turbulent chapters of his presidency so far.