FIFA is facing growing criticism from world leaders and European officials over its controversial plan to sell a stake in the World Cup and other major tournaments. The proposal, which involves creating a semi-private subsidiary to manage the events, has sparked outrage among football associations and political figures who argue it undermines the sport’s independence. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has openly criticized the move, calling it a betrayal of football’s core values (thesun.co.uk).
The plan, which aims to attract external investors, has been met with strong opposition from European Union officials, including EU sports chief Glenn Micallef, who warned that FIFA is “crossing the line” by involving private interests in the management of international competitions. The EU has urged FIFA to reconsider its approach, emphasizing that football should remain a public good (sport.timesofmalta.com).
In an attempt to secure support, FIFA’s current president, Gianni Infantino, has offered a one-time payment of up to £30 million to each of the 211 member associations if they back the proposal. However, the financial incentive has not quelled the controversy, with many fearing that the move could lead to a loss of control over the sport’s most prestigious events (gbnews.com).
