Former FIFA Vice President Jim Boyce said on Sunday world soccer’s governing body should focus on the interests of fans after President Gianni Infantino abandoned plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, calling the proposal “ludicrous.“ FIFA had proposed raising up to $4.2 billion by selling a roughly 20% stake in a new entity that would oversee FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

The proposal, unveiled on Tuesday, drew immediate backlash. European soccer’s governing body UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA events and accused the organization of putting the sport’s “soul” up for sale.

FIFA had argued that selling a minority stake in its commercial operations would generate billions of dollars to support soccer development worldwide and accused the media of mischaracterizing the proposal.