FIFA's World Cup plot looks dead in the water as Asian Federation stand with UEFA and CONCACAF to deny Gianni Infantino a majority - but deluded president vows to plough on with his controversial plan

Gianni Infantino's divisive plan to sell stakes in the World Cup appears to be dead after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing the plot. 

Overnight, FIFA issued a statement, doubling down on plans to sell £3.1 billion in shares for FIFA tournaments after UEFA announced a boycott of competitions and CONCACAF - the North, Central, American and Caribbean federation - opposed the plans.

But the AFC has now chosen to stand with their intercontinental counterparts, leaving Infantino's project - and potentially his FIFA presidency - facing a terminal threat.

136 FIFA members are now publicly opposed to the proposals, bringing the dissidents above the required 106 threshold to block the plans.

In a statement, the AFC said: 'The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA's proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA's flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE. 

'The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.

'Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by UEFA and CONCACAF, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward. 

'The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations. 

'Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.

'While the immediate debate centres on FFE, the AFC considers this issue extends far beyond a single proposal. 

'Rather, it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed. 

'While the AFC notes FIFA's latest clarification on the proposal, the central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered.

'A proposal of such significance, with the potential to affect the commercial, sporting and strategic future of world football, must not emerge through processes that leave Confederations, Member Associations (MAs) and even FIFA's own governing bodies, including the FIFA Council, feeling sidelined. 

'The primary objective for world football must be to ensure that decisions of such magnitude are being developed through processes that are anchored on transparency and command the confidence of the football community.

'This is not the first occasion where major stakeholders have been confronted with significant initiatives after the direction of travel appears to have already been determined. 

'Such an approach undermines confidence in FIFA's governance framework and diminishes the authority of its statutory bodies. 

'No subsequent consultation process, however well-intentioned, can replace early engagement with the appropriate FIFA bodies and the football family.

'The AFC believes this moment must become a catalyst for strengthening institutional reform. While every FIFA MA must have the opportunity to consider and determine proposals affecting the future of world football, meaningful democracy is not measured solely by the opportunity to vote. 

'It begins with transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation and genuine participation throughout the decision-making process.

'Accordingly, the AFC calls upon FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement and appropriate oversight by FIFA's statutory bodies.

'The FIFA World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family. Their future must always be shaped collectively, through institutions that reflect the voices of all Confederations and MAs.'

The AFC's statement criticises FIFA's clarification of their proposals released on Friday morning, where they blamed the media for misconstruing their plans and made a dig at UEFA for holding FIFA to account.

FIFA said: 'We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday.

'We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.

⁠'Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.

'FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations (MAs) have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself.

'Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain. 

'Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA.'

They continued by outlining the plans, subject to consultation with member nations.

There is frustration across the international football landscape, however, that such proposals have been unilaterally developed - with proposed investors already lined up - in complete secrecy despite an eventual 'consultation'.