SOCCER: FIFA urged to restore trust after investor plan backlash

FIFA had proposed raising up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20% stake in a new commercial entity that would oversee its competitions, including the FIFA World Cup. The governing body said the investment would generate additional funding to support soccer development around the world.

The proposal, however, sparked immediate criticism from across the football community. UEFA, European soccer's governing body, threatened to boycott FIFA events and accused the organization of putting the sport's "soul" up for sale. FIFA defended the plan, saying it involved only a minority commercial stake and that reports had misrepresented its intentions.

Speaking to Reuters, Boyce said FIFA should not rely on outside investors to fund the sport.

"There's no way that this should be sold to investors," Boyce said. "If you invest, you're looking to make money out of that investment. FIFA is a non-profit organization. To promote football throughout the world, they don't need outside investors."

Boyce said the controversy had damaged FIFA's reputation and that Infantino must now focus on restoring confidence among fans and member associations.

"The average football fan has been sickened by what has happened. They are willing to see what repair work is going to be done," he said.

He added that Infantino would need to rebuild credibility before seeking another term as FIFA president.

The pressure on Infantino increased after UEFA and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced they had lost confidence in his leadership. FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro also resigned, calling the investment proposal "a bad deal for football."

Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016, has twice been re-elected unopposed. He announced in April that he would seek a fourth term, with the election scheduled for March 18 next year in Morocco.

Boyce believes Infantino still has time to regain support but described the failed proposal as a significant setback.

Beyond the investment issue, Boyce also criticized the high ticket prices at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He said FIFA should prioritize making the sport more accessible for supporters rather than focusing on commercial interests.

He also questioned FIFA's handling of the video assistant referee (VAR) system and criticized the governing body's decision to overturn the automatic one-match suspension issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to Boyce, VAR should only be used to correct clear and obvious officiating errors, saying its current implementation has become excessive.

He urged FIFA to return its focus to its core mission of promoting the game for players and fans worldwide. -Reporting by Lucy Thomson in London; writing by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters