Former FA Boss Criticizes FIFA President

By Mike Lorigan

7.30

Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at 7:24 pm

Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at 7:25 pm

David Gallop is the former CEO of Football Federation Australia.

He said, 'It's gone down like a lead balloon.'

David Gallop thinks FIFA president Gianni Infantino's World Cup privatisation proposal is a bad idea.

Mr Gallop told 7.30 that the proposal is very unpopular and people do not like it.

He said, 'That's how poorly it's been received.'

Mr Gallop was one of Australia's top sports administrators.

He watched as Mr Infantino's failed sell-off plan became a big crisis.

Mr Infantino wanted to transfer FIFA's commercial rights to a private company.

Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, was one of the people behind the plan.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino knows US President Donald Trump.

Mr Gallop said, 'You need good reasons to sell something, especially the World Cup.'

He asked, 'Do you really need the money? What are you getting and what are you giving up?'

People do not like the idea of private investors making money from the game.

'One-off sugar hit'

Mr Gallop said privatisation is not always wrong, but it needs a good reason.

He said, 'It will be a mistake to burn the furniture to heat the house.'

Mr Gallop thinks sports should be set up for long-term success, not just a quick profit.

These are the questions that need to be answered when selling community assets.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to privatise was met with derision.

The proposal offered FIFA's member federations one-off payments of $20 million each.

FIFA has $5 billion in cash after the World Cup.

Within three days, Mr Infantino and FIFA scrapped the plans.

Europe's UEFA, North America's CONCACAF, and Asia's AFC opposed the plan.

UEFA, CONCACAF, and many national federations have withdrawn their support for Mr Infantino.

Football Australia's chair and CEO declined an interview with 7.30.

The organisation welcomed the decision to scrap the privatisation proposal.

Mr Gallop said Australia's influence comes from integrity, not political power.

Infantino's 'blotted copybook'

Mr Infantino's integrity has been called into question.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter's tenure ended due to corruption.

Mr Infantino was elected in 2016 to restore confidence in FIFA.

Mr Gallop was CEO when Australia's bid to host the 2022 World Cup was beaten by Qatar.

Mr Gallop said, 'There was a bit of a stench around FIFA and Gianni came in with a pitch of transparency.'

He said, '[Especially] coming hot off the heels of a number of other contentious decisions.'

United States' Folarin Balogun's red card was rescinded during the World Cup.

Despite calls for Mr Infantino's resignation, Mr Gallop said his tenure might not be over.

Mr Gallop said, 'I don't think it's necessarily so that he won't get re-elected.'

Mr Gallop remembers representing Australia at FIFA congresses.

He said, 'Behind us would be Brazil … millions of people, an absolute icon of world football … but everyone gets one vote.'

Mr Gallop believes the president's future depends on whether member associations support him.

Fan outrage

Patrick Clancy, head of the Football Supporters Association, said many fans felt betrayed.

Football's governing body has been at the centre of controversy and corruption allegations.

He said, 'He's tried to privatise football at the expense of the game of football.'

Mr Clancy said the proposal came out of nowhere and is not in line with what fans thought.

His organisation wants to know where Football Australia stands on Mr Infantino's leadership.

Mr Clancy said football supporters want to see the game run properly.

He said, 'They want to feel that there is a degree of integrity and they don't want a money-hungry organisation.'

Within 24 hours, Infantino and FIFA completely changed the shape of world football.

Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30 pm on ABC iview and ABC TV

Contact 7.30

Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.

See more ABC coverage in your search results

Pratique d'écoute