'Crosses the line' - UEFA issues furious response after Gianni Infantino's plan to sell shares in World Cup emerges

European football governing body UEFA has issued an angry statement after plans for Gianni Infantino to sell shares in the World Cup were revealed.

Infantino has come under fire for a whole host of reasons off the back of the World Cup in North America and recently launched a scathing rant aimed at “those behind pens and papers” who were “spreading hate and false rumours”.

But the FIFA chief, who has been asked to appear in front of a United States committee over his relationship with Donald Trump, has caused an almighty stir after reports claimed he is looking to sell stakes in FIFA's commercial and events operations.

The Financial Times and The Times both reported the news, which then prompted confirmation from FIFA - who admitted it will "invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments" in a new subsidiary - Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).

READ MORE: Gianni Infantino directly addresses World Cup backlash in scathing 'spreading hate' rant

The subsidiary could be worth around £15 billion, with the FIFA Forward Enterprise project aiming to raising £3.16 billion from investors in its major competition.

Should approval be given, likely through votes from all 211 members at the Fifa Congress in March, Thrive Eternal - an American venture capital company founded by the brother of Trump's son in-law Joshua Kushner - are expected to lead the private investment process.

UEFA slam FIFA's plan as power struggle continues

Infantino said that "parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value - and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game".

He also claimed the move is "about the democratisation of football worldwide" so that all associations get a fair slice of the pie.

As per The Times, he is reportedly in line to pocket tens of millions of pounds should the plans bare fruit.

However, UEFA have not taken kindly to the plans and believe the move FIFA are pondering crosses a line that should not be crossed.

"This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross," a passionate statement said.

"UEFA takes it extremely seriously.

"So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.

"The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade - especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell."

Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and is in his third term. He could stay on until 2031, with more than 200 Fifa members endorsing him and Infantino signalling his intent of running unopposed for a fourth stint in 2027.

According to The Times, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin boycotted attending the World Cup in protest over the decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun's red card against Bosnia and Herzegovinia.

In a hugely controversial call, the AS Monaco star was allowed to play in the round of 16 against Belgium after the red card was suspended for one year.

Trump admitted he spoke to Infantino and FIFA regarding the dismissal, which he felt "wasn’t a foul".

UEFA said FIFA were guilty of “crossing a red line” by making an “incomprehensible and unjustifiable” decision.

Ceferin, who did attend the game between Mexico and South Africa, decided against watching the final in the flesh.

He is also understood to have been left unhappy by Somali referee Omar Artan being banned from entering the country by the US authorities' for the World Cup and moved to appoint him as the man in the middle for the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.