Paddy Power has Gianni Infantino at 1/4 odds to remain FIFA president by the end of the year, despite a growing rebellion against his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
The 56-year-old is facing pressure to resign after a leaked proposal revealed FIFA's intention to raise £3.1 billion by selling a share of the World Cup and the Club World Cup to outside investors. UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC have all come out against the scheme, and senior FIFA advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, calling the plan a bad deal for football and urging colleagues to follow him.
Despite the backlash, Paddy Power make Infantino the clear favourite to survive, with the next FIFA presidential election not due until March 2027. The bookmaker has him at 3/1 to have left his role by 31 December.
Paddy Power also took a dig at FIFA with a stunt in Zurich, placing a green "FOR SALE" sign outside the governing body's headquarters. The sign read: "To anyone - anyone - with money, power and a willingness to endure Gianni's small talk."
A Paddy Power spokesperson said: "Astronomical ticket prices. Inflated hotel room rates. A diabolical half-time show. Just when you think you've seen it all from Gianni Infantino, he goes and puts the World Cup on the market. We thought that might be one thing that isn't up for grabs, but Gianni seems to think otherwise, so we've lent him a sign to tell suitors football is officially for sale."
The proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, now looks dead in the water. Some 135 FIFA members are publicly opposed, taking the dissidents above the 106-member threshold required to block it. Infantino had promised member associations a £30 million incentive to back the deal.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham joined calls for Infantino to resign on Friday.
