World Cup: FIFA chief Gianni Infantino offers £30m incentive for members to back controversial private investment plans

Gianni Infantino has given football associations until September 19 to back his plan to sell off part of FIFA to private investors - with a $40m (£30.1m) incentive to accept, a letter has revealed.

FIFA announced on Tuesday that it was seeking to launch FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would bring together the sale of FIFA's commercial rights - including broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing - with the operational delivery of its tournaments.

Under the proposal, FIFA would raise up to $4.2bn (£3.1bn) from external investors through the sale of minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE, which it says would be valued at around $20bn (£15bn).

The governing body says its plans - which need approval from member associations - could deliver more than $10bn in "football development funding" over the next four years.

The FIFA president, in correspondence only sent to the 211 member associations after his secret plans were leaked and met with fierce opposition from UEFA, raised the subject of finances which would be available to access from January.

He warned that countries will have access to much less cash for development projects, grassroots football and national teams if they do not back selling off more than 20 per cent of a new commercial spin-off to oversee World Cups.

Infantino said the launch of FFE needs more than 50 per cent of members to back the plans, along with his ruling council.

He wrote: "Should neither condition be satisfied, FIFA will continue as planned with the Forward Programme 4.0 … meaning approximately $10m (£7.5m) per MA [member association] for the next cycle."

Infantino raised the prospect of associations who do not back his plans missing out on the cash if the majority of the world endorses the venture.

He wrote: "A singular and unique funding opportunity only for those Member Associations who wish to participate, with their decision to be made by September 19 2026 so we can plan ahead and with funds to be available immediately as of January 1 2027."

The letter raises the financial stakes, with FIFA previously saying on Tuesday that the new venture would provide access to funding of $20m (£15m) from 2027 to 2030 - a figure that has now doubled.

Infantino wrote: "This entity will be fully focused on one target objective; generating as much value as possible for FIFA's Member Associations."

But FIFA has not commented on how much Infantino stands to benefit financially from delivering a $20bn venture - and how he could stay on beyond 2031 when term limits require him to relinquish the presidency if re-elected next year.

UEFA, European football's governing body, released a furious statement on Tuesday that said the proposals "crossed a line".