It's a long road back for Infantino

Former FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce said on Sunday world soccer's governing body should focus on the interests of fans after president Gianni Infantino abandoned his plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, with Boyce calling the proposal "ludicrous".

FIFA had proposed raising up to $4.2 billion by selling a roughly 20 percent stake in a new entity that would oversee FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

The proposal, unveiled last Tuesday, drew immediate backlash.

European soccer's governing body UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA events and accused the organization of putting the sport's "soul" up for sale.

The FIFA president had argued that selling a minority stake in its commercial operations would generate billions of dollars to support soccer development worldwide and accused the media of mischaracterizing the proposal.

"There's no way that this should be sold to investors," Boyce told reporters.

"If you invest, you're looking to make money out of that investment. FIFA is a non-profit organization to promote football throughout the world, they don't need outside investors."

'Repair work'

Boyce said the episode had left FIFA with considerable work to do to restore trust.

"The average football fan has been sickened by what has happened. They are willing to see what repair work is going to be done," Boyce said.

"The president of FIFA is a very high-ranking position. And now, if he wants to retain his position, he's got to start the repair work caused by the damage from what I can only describe as a ludicrous suggestion."

The pressure on Infantino intensified on Saturday, when regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF said they had lost confidence in his leadership.

The fallout also reached FIFA's inner circle, with Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigning on Friday and describing the proposal as "a bad deal for football".

Infantino faces re-election next year, with CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani reportedly considering a challenge.

Since succeeding Sepp Blatter in 2016, the 56-year-old has twice been re-elected unopposed. Infantino said in April he would seek a fourth term, with the vote scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18.

"He's (Infantino) got eight months in which he's somehow got to get the credibility back within, obviously, the member associations," Boyce added.

"But I do honestly believe that if ...he gets the credibility back ... he probably will have enough support to carry on for a further four years.

"But this has been a big blow to Infantino."

'Promote the game'

Boyce also raised concerns about ticket prices at the recently concluded World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as VAR and FIFA's wider stewardship of the game.

"FIFA has got to get back to what FIFA is meant to do, and that's to promote the game of football for the average football supporter," he said.

"The greatest thrill is their country qualifying for a World Cup.

"The prices in America were absolutely ludicrous."

Infantino has also faced scrutiny over the Folarin Balogun disciplinary case, after FIFA suspended the automatic one-match ban imposed following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina after intervention from US President Donald Trump.

"This overturning of the red card was a terrible decision made by FIFA. It should never have happened," Boyce added.

"This whole VAR situation needs to be looked at, as well, because, to me, it's becoming absolutely crazy. VAR should only be used for a clear and deliberate mistake by the referee on the pitch who has taken charge of that game."

Struggling to survive

Infantino's leadership has become "radioactive", and his 10-year reign as head of world soccer "is over", Michael Payne, a former head of marketing at the International Olympic Committee, told reporters.

"I do not think we have ever seen such a fast fall from grace by a sports leader," Payne said.

"One week ago, Infantino was riding high from delivering a very successful World Cup, and expected to run unopposed for re-election next year to continue his mandate as president of FIFA.

"Now Infantino will struggle to survive the month.

"How does he find himself in this mess — gross hubris!"

Payne, who in nearly two decades at the IOC helped modernize the organization's brand and improve its finances, said he feared the fallout if Infantino stayed.

"I learned long ago to never say never in this world, but this is going to take more than a miracle for Infantino to survive," said the 68-year-old Irishman.

"I don't see how any amount of lobbying or 'persuasion' of the smaller countries can save him.

"His leadership has become radioactive, and if he stays there will be total civil war in global football, with breakaways by leading nations and boycotts.

"It's over."

Terrence Burns, who was brand and marketing strategist for two successful World Cup hosting bids, said he had never seen "anything mismanaged and bungled so badly by people so smart".

However, Burns said that even though Infantino's position is "precarious", it is not beyond repair, even if a challenger does emerge for the vote in Rabat next year.

He said that UEFA had resorted to the "nuclear option" of threatening a World Cup boycott, but in FIFA elections "confederations do not vote as a bloc".

"It's the individual associations that receive development money from Zurich," said Burns, adding that Africa (CAF) and Oceania could be pivotal.

"If CAF stays with him, he can lose Europe, Asia and CONCACAF in public and still win in the hall.

"If CAF moves, it's game over."

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