European Union Warns Fifa over Plan to Privatise World Cup
EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef said FIFA’s proposal raises governance and competition-law concerns as reports say national associations could receive about $20 million each.
- On Wednesday, the European Union issued a warning to FIFA regarding president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell World Cup commercial rights to private investors via a new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise.
- Infantino's proposal, advised by JP Morgan and Thrive Eterna, involves ceding commercial operations to private investors, reportedly aiming to boost payouts to national associations from $8m to roughly $20m to secure FIFA Council support.
- Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef warned that FIFA's commercialization is "corrosive," telling Zurich, "Hands off our football," and noting the proposals raise "important competition law considerations" under European Union law.
- UEFA condemned the plan, stating, "The soul and governance of football are not commodities to be traded," while Micallef confirmed the European Commission will act "within the scope of its competences under the Treaties."
- Micallef emphasized that FIFA's alignment with private interests raises questions about governance and conflicts of interest, demanding that "Every federation must engage in genuine dialogue with leagues, clubs, players, and fans before taking a stance.
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Commissioner for Youth and Sport warns that he will examine the proposal in case it falls within the competence of the EU
The Times reveals that Gianni Infantino would have told the Fifa member federations that they would lose "nearly 75%" of their potential gains if they did not approve of the World Cup's partial sale project.
Disgraced Sepp Blatter breaks silence on Gianni Infantino's World Cup plans with scathing response
Disgraced Sepp Blatter breaks silence on Gianni Infantino's World Cup plans with scathing response . Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has launched a blistering attack on Gianni Infantino's controversial plans to open the commercial future of the World Cup to private investors, insisting "no one has the right to sell our game"
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and former FIFA president Joseph Blatter have joined critics of soccer's governing body's plans to set up a private company to host the World Cup and other events.
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