Now Reading: AIFF backs Infantino for ₹382 crore FIFA lifeline
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AIFF backs Infantino for ₹382 crore FIFA lifeline
Gianni Infantino's plan to sell 20% equity in a new FIFA entity to private investors has provoked a revolt from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation. The proposal would have raised…
The Story in Brief
Gianni Infantino's plan to sell 20% equity in a new FIFA entity to private investors has provoked a revolt from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation. The proposal would have raised $4.2 billion, with member associations receiving up to $40 million each. The All India Football Federation (AIFF), which operates on a domestic budget of just ₹134 crore, is reported to support Infantino in exchange for the promised surge in funding from the current $8 million per four-year cycle.
Critics call the plan a bribe to secure votes, but the AIFF's dependency is stark. Sports broadcaster Joe Morrison told Times Now that the federation is 'destitute' and cannot afford to oppose Infantino. The Frontline analysis notes that JPMorgan Chase, which earlier backed the failed European Super League, was deeply involved in drafting the proposal. India's gamble: backing Infantino against its own continental body, the AFC, which has joined the opposition.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Infantino is buying votes with inflated promises misses the real story. India's AIFF is not selling out, it is surviving on crumbs. The real outrage should be that the federation cannot generate its own revenue after decades of mismanagement. Whether Infantino's plan is a 'bribe' or a 'development tool' depends on who gets the money and how it is spent. The test will come if Infantino wins re-election and the cash arrives: will the AIFF build grassroots football or just keep the lights on?
Sources (2): timesnownews.com, frontline.thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
