Fifa boss scraps plans to sell parts of the World Cup

Fifa President, Gianni Infantino, says he's scrapping plans to sell parts of the World Cup competition to investors.

Fifa - the organisation that runs world football and World Cups - had said the idea could have helped grow the game and bring in more money for football.

However, many of the countries around the world who play in the tournament, strongly disagreed with the plans, saying the investors would have had too much influence over the game.

They had even threatened not to take part in future men's and women's World Cups if the plans had gone ahead.

Last week, Infantino announced he would have offered each of Fifa's 211 member associations £30 million each if they backed his plans for private investment in its tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups.

In response, football teams in European countries (represented by Uefa), including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, responded by saying they wouldn't in the next World Cup tournaments if the plan went ahead.

In a statement, Uefa explained that the World Cup is "one of football's greatest sporting legacies".

"It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.

"No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale," Uefa added.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf - who oversees football in North, Central America and the Caribbean - also opposed the plans and said they wouldn't take part either.

Infantino has now said that it had become clear the project had "created divisions" that are "no longer in the interest" of its original plans.

He added: "As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

Some football officials and organisations, including Uefa, have said they want Infantino to step down from his job as a result of the controversy and many feel that it has damaged his reputation.

In a statement they said: "The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family."