When FIFA’s Gianni Infantino proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, a $20 billion plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private equity (Josh Kushner’s [yes, those Kushners]Thrive Capital) the response was immediate. UEFA, governing 55 clubs in Europe, blasted Infantino, saying that the World Cup “is not FIFA’s to sell,” stating, “ We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests” adding, “There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise.” Infantino tried to pull a Trumpian monetary takeover and was met with a solid wall of “NO” as CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments. Infantino was forced to back down and abandon the proposal.
I can’t help but draw a parallel with Trump, who refuses to accept that our country is not his to sell. Yet unlike the soccer federations’ response, there is no solid wall of “NO” coming from our Republican-controlled legislative institutions. There seems to be no end to what these Republicans are prepared to accept and to compromise in their craven appeasement and enabling of this president. We must unequivocally reject Trump’s corrupt, transactional agenda. We must build a solid wall of NO against a president and administration open for business to the highest bidder. Soccer resisted, fought back and reaffirmed its integrity. And Trump is jettisoning ours.