'It is not FIFA's to sell': UEFA blasts Infantino's $20 billion World Cup plan
UEFA has strongly criticized FIFA president Gianni Infantino's proposal to create a $20 billion commercial entity to manage the World Cup. UEFA argues that football's governing bodies should not treat the sport as a tradeable asset and has raised concerns regarding transparency.
Why it matters
This conflict highlights a major power struggle over the commercialization and governance of global football.
UEFA has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino's ambitious proposal to create a $20 billion commercial company to manage the World Cup and other major tournaments, declaring that football's governing institutions have crossed a dangerous line.The European football body reacted strongly after FIFA officially unveiled plans for FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new entity that would seek up to $4.2 billion from private investors in exchange for minority, non-controlling stakes in the business, which has been valued at $20 billion.The proposal immediately triggered concerns over the future ownership and governance of football, with UEFA questioning the transparency behind the project and warning against commercialising the sport's biggest competitions.'It is not FIFA's to sell'In an unusually blunt statement, UEFA made its opposition crystal clear."It is not FIFA's to sell," the governing body said as per an AP report.
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