ANDY Burnham, Gary Lineker, and Uefa have all slammed Fifa’s shameless plan to flog the World Cup to investors and privatise the competition.

The bombshell plot to sell the tournament to financiers has sparked a full-blown football civil war – as top figures and fans blast the ridiculous plans.

 

Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s plot could net him tens of millions – and lead to a company headed by him being formed.

People close to his pal Donald Trump have reportedly been consulted.

The idea has sparked global outrage from fans and triggered a footie civil war – with European governing body Uefa warning it “crosses a line”.

They said: “The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.

“None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell.”

PM Andy Burnham said: “The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport.

“Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans.” Sky News reported that European nations would consider boycotting the World Cup if Fifa president Gianni Infantino pushes ahead with the scheme.

And senior football figures warned the plan is a potential “nuclear bomb” for the game.

 

Gary Lineker reposted the BBC’s Instagram story with the comment “Nothing surprises me any more” and a vomit emoji.

While sports broadcaster Richard Keys said: “The WC is not this fool’s to sell. Enough….”

US venture capital firm Thrive is expected to lead the proposed investor group for new subsidiary Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE). Bank JP Morgan is said to be involved.

Thrive Capital’s founder Joshua Kushner, 41, is the brother of Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Each of Fifa’s 211 member associations would be given a stake potentially each worth £15million, which they could retain or sell to raise income for themselves.

They could vote on the plan at March’s Fifa Congress in Morocco. Potential investors would have to sign non-disclosure agreements and Fifa would own a majority stake in the company, reported The Times.

Infantino could become its commissioner, once his presidential term expires in 2031. His salary could hit £48million, the same as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Some non-binding agreements setting out the terms of the arrangement have already been signed, it was reported.

 

Setting out the idea, Fifa said: “Fifa is always on the lookout for innovative projects that can boost the development of football around the world and is always open to reviewing proposals submitted to it.

“We are starting a consultation process. As the Fifa president stated on July 18 during a meeting with all Fifa member associations, the priority now is to ‘unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that Fifa has’ after the Fifa World Cup 2026 success.

“Fifa makes its decisions democratically, and a proposal that Fifa has received and is currently reviewing will soon be presented to the 211 member associations and the Fifa Council, who will be the sole final decision-makers.”

Fifa said money available to member associations would increase from £6million to £20million for the 2027-30 cycle “and grow steadily thereafter cycle-on-cycle”.

In its strongly-worded response, Uefa said: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. Uefa takes it extremely seriously.

“So should every national football association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the game’s future.”

Even ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter laid into the plan saying: “The close relationship between the Fifa president and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No one has the right to sell our game.”

Footie writer Henry Winter said: “Outside investors should be nowhere near the greatest sporting prize.”

Fifa generated billions through TV rights, sponsorship and ticket and hospitality sales from the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico. Infantino said earlier this month that a South American proposal to expand from 48 to 64 teams would “definitely” be looked at.

But there are fears a bigger World Cup — and Club World Cup — could place more strain on domestic schedules.

Infantino was at the heart of several World Cup scandals including Trump asking him to review a red card for USA striker Folarin Balogun, which was rescinded.

There was controversy over hydration breaks, VAR calls and alleged bias towards Argentina and its superstar striker Lionel Messi.

Ex-Liverpool player Stan Collymore suggested Uefa should split from Fifa, adding: “Uefa’s power base is 10, 20, 1,000 times more. It’s where all the players, storied clubs, monster crowds, greatest coaches, referees and sheer size of football infrastructure is.”

Meanwhile, insiders said England’s FA was “completely unaware” of Fifa’s plans until its statement yesterday.

Fifa played down claims Infantino would become commissioner, saying: “This has never been discussed. However, the Fifa president and the Fifa administration will and must have leading roles in this entity.”