World Cup 'Devil's Plan' Withdrawal Not Enough for Germans; They Demand Investigation

FIFA on Saturday withdrew a controversial proposal championed by its president, Gianni Infantino. The plan, which aimed to allow private investors into the World Cup, faced strong opposition from UEFA and other continental confederations.

The DFB (German Football Association) sided with UEFA, opposing the proposal and backing calls for a boycott of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. They also demanded greater transparency regarding the entire initiative.

“The FIFA president acted unilaterally, without transparency, and ultimately irresponsibly concerning the interests of football,” DFB President Bernd Neuendorf told AFP.

“Together with UEFA and other confederations, we must ensure that a fundamentally different culture prevails at FIFA. A culture where decisions are once again primarily discussed and made by members within the governing bodies.”

The DFB also joined the English Football Association (FA), which took to social media to call for “a full and thorough review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure transparent management of world football.”

The FIFA proposal drew significant criticism, especially as it emerged just weeks after the federation announced record revenues from the 2026 World Cup, AFP reported.