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Monday, 7 September 2026
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Monday, 7 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

UEFA

UEFA — European football's governing body that opposed FIFA's private World Cup investment plan and threatened legal action against FIFA president Infantino over the proposal.

2026-01-272026-09-07
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. March 2026

  2. The Namibian

    UEFA banned all Russian and Belarusian teams in 2022

    Source

    “In 2022, it took four days for football's World and European governing bodies, Fifa and UEFA, with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to expel all Russian and Belarusian teams.”

    Four years after banning Russia, Fifa and IOC passive in the face of war
World & Region

Kushner firm withdraws from Fifa World Cup investment plan

The News

Investor Joshua Kushner said his firm Thrive Capital "would not have gotten involved" in Fifa's failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup for $20 billion if it had foreseen the backlash and political fallout within global football. Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would have raised $4.2 billion for poorer football nations, collapsed amid criticism from Uefa and others who called it a secretive deal benefiting investors.

1 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Kushner firm withdraws from Fifa World Cup investment plan

    Investor Joshua Kushner said his firm Thrive Capital "would not have gotten involved" in Fifa's failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup for $20 billion if it had foreseen the backlash and political fallout within global football. Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would have raised $4.2 billion for poorer football nations, collapsed amid criticism from Uefa and others who called it a secretive deal benefiting investors.

    1 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 29 August

  1. Uefa threatens criminal lawsuit against Fifa president Infantino

    Uefa has announced it is considering legal action against Fifa president Gianni Infantino and possibly other officials for "criminal mismanagement" over his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the World Cup. The move is described as a "massive escalation" of their feud, with a legal document filed in a Florida court accusing Infantino of criminal mismanagement.

    29 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Eto'o defends embattled Fifa president Infantino

    Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o has backed Fifa president Gianni Infantino, saying he "hasn't done anything wrong" despite mounting pressure over a collapsed private investment proposal for Fifa tournaments. Eto'o suggested the criticism was politically motivated ahead of Fifa's presidential election next year.

    25 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 10 August

  1. Three football confederations rebuke Infantino over governance

    Uefa, Concacaf and AFC issued a joint letter criticizing Fifa president Gianni Infantino, declaring that football "belongs to no individual" and stating that leadership is not a possession. The letter came after Infantino launched and then withdrew a plan to bring private investment into Fifa competitions, drawing scathing criticism from multiple confederations.

    10 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Fifa president Infantino faces pressure after investor plan fails

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who rode high after overseeing the successful 2026 World Cup expansion to 48 teams, now faces his position under threat following the collapse of a private investor plan.

    4 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 1 August

  1. Fifa scraps World Cup private investment plan after global backlash

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a proposal to allow private investment in the World Cup, which had faced fierce opposition from Uefa, national governments, and continental football bodies. The plan would have sought $4.2 billion from minority investors in Fifa Forward Enterprise while Fifa retained majority control.

    1 August 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Infantino loses Uefa confidence after World Cup investment plan withdrawal

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of European football's governing body Uefa after withdrawing his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup, which Uefa had dismissed as a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" and threatened to boycott all Fifa competitions over.

    1 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 31 July

  1. FIFA proposal could bring N$660 million to Namibian football

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new commercial subsidiary that could deliver up to US$40 million (approximately N$660 million) to the Namibia Football Association over four years if member associations approve by 19 September 2026. The funding could address long-standing gaps in stadium infrastructure, training facilities, youth development, and women's football, though the proposal has divided the football world.

    31 July 2026 · New Era →

  2. Concacaf's 41 members reject FIFA's private investor World Cup proposal

    All 41 Concacaf member associations have rejected FIFA's proposal to sell a stake in World Cup business operations, citing concerns about lack of due process, an artificially short deadline, and absence of governance review. The members also questioned the need for private equity investment after the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history.

    31 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 30 July

  1. Fifa president defends World Cup commercialisation proposal

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended a proposal to create a private subsidiary to exploit World Cup commercial benefits, calling it "an opportunity but not an obligation" and saying it would unlock previously uncaptured value to benefit member associations, though the proposal sparked global outrage after being revealed.

    30 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 7 July

  1. FIFA suspends Balogun red card after Trump appeals to Infantino

    FIFA chief Gianni Infantino defended the decision to suspend a red card issued to US World Cup star Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium in a last-16 match. The reprieve followed US President Donald Trump's direct appeal to Infantino, who insisted FIFA's disciplinary process remained independent, while Belgium's appeal was dismissed as "inadmissible."

    7 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 30 June

  1. Paul Seixas offers hope for France's Tour de France drought

    Teenage cyclist Paul Seixas's participation in the Tour de France has raised hopes of a first French victory in 41 years, since Bernard Hinault's 1985 triumph. France also faces long droughts in Paris-Roubaix (30 years since 1997) and Roland Garros men's tennis (since Yannick Noah in 1983).

    30 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 7 June

  1. Denmark's Eriksen collapses during friendly match against Ukraine

    Footballer Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine on Sunday in the 64th minute, five years after suffering cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. He is conscious and doing well under the circumstances, and was taken to hospital in Odense.

    7 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 30 May

  1. PSG win second consecutive UEFA Champions League title

    Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal FC 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time in Saturday's final in Budapest, securing back-to-back European titles.

    30 May 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 29 May

  1. Arsenal seek Champions League title, face PSG in Budapest

    Arsenal are attempting to win their first Champions League trophy by facing defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday. PSG, who won the trophy 14 years after Qatar Sports Investments took over the club, are favourites to defend after Luis Enrique rebuilt the side following the departures of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, while Arsenal are returning to Europe's biggest stage for the first time since their 2006 final loss to Barcelona.

    29 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 27 May

  1. PSG eye back-to-back Champions League titles against Arsenal

    Paris Saint-Germain, after winning their maiden Champions League title last year by defeating Inter Milan 5-0, face Arsenal in Budapest aiming to retain the trophy. Manager Luis Enrique's side are favourites and have proven difficult to stop, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia describing the team as capable of beating any opponent when they play their way.

    27 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. World Cup football differs fundamentally from elite club competition

    The article examines how international football differs from club football, citing the absence of a transfer market and the pragmatic constraints on national team coaches who must work with available players and fewer high-profile matches.

    19 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Atletico Madrid eliminates Barcelona, advances to Champions League semis

    Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in their Champions League quarterfinal tie, reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2017. Despite losing the second leg 2-1, Atletico's 2-0 first-leg advantage and Lookman's goal held firm as Barcelona finished with 10 men after Eric Garcia's red card.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. FIFA and IOC accused of double standards on war bans

    Four years after expelling Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have taken a muted stance toward the recent US-led attack on Iran, prompting experts to accuse them of applying inconsistent standards and prioritizing powerful nations over principle.

    10 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 February

  1. Real Madrid beats Benfica to reach Champions League last 16

    Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal as Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2–1 in the Champions League knockout play-off on Wednesday, progressing 3–1 on aggregate. The match followed a racism incident in the first leg involving Vinicius and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, who remains banned pending a UEFA investigation.

    26 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 February

  1. Fifa chief defends awarding Trump inaugural peace prize

    Gianni Infantino defended his controversial decision to give US President Donald Trump FIFA's inaugural peace prize at the 2026 World Cup draw in December, dismissing calls for a boycott. Infantino told Sky News that Trump "objectively" deserved the award and rejected suggestions that the World Cup hosting in North America would be boycotted over Trump administration policies.

    3 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 27 January

  1. Blatter and Swiss lawyer urge World Cup fans away from US

    Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has echoed anti-corruption lawyer Mark Pieth's warning to fans to avoid the 2026 World Cup in the United States, citing concerns over immigration enforcement and domestic incidents including the death of an unarmed US citizen shot by a federal immigration officer.

    27 January 2026 · The Namibian →

UEFA — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute