FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations, offering $40m to back his controversial plan to sell off stakes in major competitions.
The plan, which has been met with fierce opposition from European football's governing body, Uefa, would see FIFA create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, with external investors able to buy stakes in it.
FIFA's $40m Offer Sparks Controversy
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations, offering $40m to back his controversial plan to sell off stakes in major competitions. The plan, which has been met with fierce opposition from European football's governing body, Uefa, would see FIFA create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, with external investors able to buy stakes in it.
Uefa condemned the plans, saying they "crossed a line" and accused FIFA of using football "to enrich themselves and their friends". Uefa intends to hold an emergency meeting of all 55 members this week to work on a plan of action.
Former FA Chairman Slams Proposal
Former FA and Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has slammed Infantino's proposal, calling it "absolutely dreadful" and "totally unacceptable". Bernstein said England must "withdraw" from the World Cup if Infantino's proposals go through.
Bernstein told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that the proposal feels like "cronyism, nepotism" and that it is "sort of stinks, frankly". He said that if critics of the plans want to try and save football from this "dreadful situation", they must "have the guts to really follow it through" and refuse to play in the World Cup.
FIFA's Argument Under Fire
FIFA's argument that it is compelled to look at proposals that would help it grow the game globally has led to fears about expansion at a time when proposals for a 64-team World Cup in 2030 are gathering pace. One senior source within the English game told BBC Sport that the threat posed by FIFA's plan is one of the biggest the game has faced and is on a par with the proposed European Super League.
FIFA says the money will come from "liquidating a minority portion" of its stake on FIFA Forward Enterprise, a subsidiary company set up to maximise commercial revenue that will include private investors. The plan has been met with fierce opposition from Uefa, which has accused FIFA of lacking due process and governance.
What's Next for FIFA and Uefa
Uefa's emergency meeting this week will be a crucial moment in determining the fate of FIFA's plan. The confederation only accounts for a quarter of FIFA's 211-country membership, but it includes most of the world's most successful teams. If Uefa decides to boycott the World Cup, it could have significant implications for the football calendar, which is already squeezed.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the plans, calling them "an offer, not an obligation". He said that the plan is part of a "democratic process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation". The outcome of this controversy will be closely watched by football fans around the world.
Source: Joy Online
