FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced that the governing body of world football has abandoned plans to sell a stake in World Cup broadcasting rights to private investors, following fierce backlash from stakeholders across the sport. The decision, confirmed on Saturday evening, represents a significant U-turn for FIFA, which had been exploring the controversial proposal as a means of generating additional revenue. The move comes after widespread criticism from national football associations, broadcasters, and fans who argued that privatising portions of the tournament’s media rights could undermine the competition’s global accessibility. Infantino’s statement signals that FIFA has heeded concerns that commercialising the World Cup’s broadcasting rights in this manner risked damaging the tournament’s reach and its status as one of sport’s most widely watched events. The announcement marks a rare instance of FIFA stepping back from a major commercial initiative in the face of public opposition.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.