A plan by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to create a $29bn company running the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family has been revealed — and was immediately attacked by European soccer body UEFA.

“It is not FIFA’s to sell,” UEFA said in a statement. “None of us are the owners of football.”

FIFA said in a statement that FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would raise up to $US4.2bn (6bn) later this year to help fund development programs “based on an initial equity valuation of $US20bn ($29bn) by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests.”

FIFA is working with JP Morgan while investors would include Thrive Eternal launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is a son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

UEFA are wary of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s relationship with US President Donald Trump. Photo: AAP

The men’s World Cup that finished this month deepened the political and personal ties between Trump and Infantino, and fuelled concerns about those ties including from UEFA.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially,” UEFA said in response to Tuesday’s announcement.

FIFA is currently a Swiss-based not-for-profit association of its 211 national member federations worldwide.

Those 211 members must approve any plan and would get the chance “to access up to $US20m ($29m) in one-off capital,” FIFA said.

“This is about the democratisation of football worldwide,” Infantino said in a FIFA statement.

UEFA, however, said it took reports of the project “extremely seriously. So should every national Football Association.”

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” said UEFA, which comprises 55 of the FIFA members.

The project is the second time in Infantino’s increasingly controversial 11-year presidency he has tried to push through a multi-billion dollar deal with private backers.

In 2018, the Swiss proposed a secretive $36 bn offer over 12 years with SoftBank of Japan to create new global competitions, including an expanded men’s Club World Cup, seemingly backed by Saudi Arabian money.

That ultimately failed after meeting fierce resistance from UEFA, which saw threats to its prize assets: the Champions League and the European Championship.

Infantino still built closer ties to Saudi soccer and the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup and largely funded the revamped men’s Club World Cup hosted in the US last year.

The financial success of the just-ended World Cup has looked likely to ensure Infantino is re-elected next year unopposed for a fourth and final term in office through 2031.

Speculation has swirled for years that Infantino might want a different global role in soccer beyond his FIFA presidency, which is due to end when he is 61.

The Times of London, which broke the news with the Financial Times, reported a CEO-like commissioner role of the new FFE operation could be created for Infantino.

“This has never been discussed,” FIFA said. “However, the FIFA president and the FIFA administration will and must have leading roles in this entity — if approved.”

There was no timetable suggested for debate and decisions by FIFA, its ruling Council chaired by Infantino, and the 211 members.

FIFA is scheduled to hold an online congress in November to confirm hosts of the Women’s World Cup editions in 2031 and 2035.

Democrats have highlighted possible favours from Trump, and his ‘hilariously fake’ FIFA Peace Prize. Photo: AAP 

Infantino-Trump probe

The close relationship of FIFA president Gianni Infantino with United States President Donald Trump has raised suspicion among US politicians.

Jamie Raskin, the highest-ranking Democrat in the House Judiciary Committee, has written to Infantino, requesting information and communications by August 9 on the relationship with Trump and his administration, and on ticketing at the recent World Cup.

Raskin also asked Infantino to make himself available for questioning by the judiciary committee when he is in the US.

The Democrats said “the investigation examines a sustained campaign by FIFA to secure special favours from President Trump … all while gouging American consumers for exorbitant prices during the World Cup”, which the US co-hosted with Mexico and Canada.

According to New York Times sources, the probe could become a formal investigation if the Democrats reach a majority in the November elections, and Raskin could potentially become judiciary committee chairman.

In his letter, Raskin cited a “hilariously fake” FIFA Peace Prize which Trump received from Infantino at the World Cup draw in December.

He criticised FIFA for leasing an office space in New York’s Trump Tower which would only be used for the duration of the World Cup and had a market value of $600,000 a year.

“These actions appear designed to induce President Trump and his administration to make decisions in FIFA’s favour,” Raskin said.

Raskin added: “The most recent quid pro quo that FIFA and President Trump orchestrated is not a victimless crime. It hurts Americans.

“FIFA has taken its newfound favoured status in the Trump Administration as a sign that it may rip off its consumers, most notably, by employing illegal price gouging and fraudulent sales tactics for the World Cup.”

Dynamic pricing was introduced for the first time at a World Cup, with cost set by demand. Apart from inflated prices, FIFA is accused of placing ticket holders in other sections of a stadium than those for which they had bought tickets.

Ticketing practices are under investigation by the attorney general in New York and New Jersey.

—AAP