Fifa's plan to invite private investment in its competitions, including the World Cup, has been slammed by European football's governing body Uefa and Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Uefa and Burnham have expressed concerns that the plan would allow Fifa to "sell out" and compromise the integrity of the sport. Burnham wrote on X: "Let me say this very directly. Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine."
The proposal, which would see Fifa expand "football development funding" to more than $10bn, has sparked a heated debate within the football community. Uefa sees the plan as a step too far, claiming it would cross a line that football's governing institutions should never cross.
Fifa's Response: Control and Governance
Fifa has argued that its plan is similar to that used by governing bodies in other sports, and that it would retain control of the new subsidiary, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions.
Infantino said every nation should benefit from the riches football creates, stating: "Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game." However, Uefa has rejected this argument, saying the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade.
Private Investment and Potential Consequences
The proposal has also raised concerns about the potential involvement of private equity investors, with some fearing that it could lead to a drive to generate more finance through Fifa competitions, resulting in expansion, both in the number of teams and the frequency of both the World Cup and the Club World Cup.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport that the proposals are "an opportunity for Fifa to generate even more money" and that there would likely be pressure for a 64-team World Cup and for it to take place every two years if the FFE organisation is set up, because it has "got to make money in order to satisfy the shareholders".
Next Steps and Reactions
The matter is likely to be a topic of conversation at the next Fifa Council meeting in the autumn and then around the Fifa Intercontinental Cup, featuring Champions League winners Paris St-Germain, in December. The proposal could be voted on by all 211 members at the Fifa Congress in Morocco in March.
Uefa's criticism of the plan has been echoed by some within the English football community, with one senior executive telling BBC Sport privately that the announcement was the biggest story since the European Super League plan, and raised just as many concerns. The issue is if there is a drive to generate more finance through Fifa competitions, that will mean expansion – both in the number of teams and the frequency of both the World Cup and the Club World Cup.
Source: Joy Online
