FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the plan to sell stakes ​in the World Cup a proposal but "not an obligation" ‌after the idea provoked a furious response from some football authorities.

FIFA announced plans this week to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the ​World Cup and its other events, and said it ​will offer stakes of up to 20 percent in it ⁠to external investors.

The proposal drew strong criticism from the ​sport's regional confederations, which said they were blindsided by the plan ​by world soccer's governing body to bring private investors into the sport.

But Infantino said strengthening the commercial side of the game is the natural ​next step in this evolution.

"It’s part of a democratic ​process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not ‌an ⁠obligation, and, as I said, it kicks off the consultation process," Infantino said in a video provided by FIFA on Wednesday.

FIFA is one of the world's wealthiest sporting organizations, generating ​billions of dollars ​in revenue, ⁠largely from broadcasting rights, sponsorship and other commercial deals linked to the World Cup.

Infantino insisted in ​his remarks that fans will remain the ​cornerstone of ⁠soccer and that FIFA will continue to govern football without any external interference.

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"FIFA obviously continues to govern football without any external ⁠interference," ​said Infantino. "And the flagship tournament it ​organizes, like the FIFA World Cup or the FIFA Women's World Cup, will ​always remain."