The standoff between FIFA and UEFA has escalated. Just hours after revelations about Gianni Infantino's plan to open up a new commercial structure linked to the World Cup to private investors, UEFA issued a particularly scathing statement. The European governing body believes this idea undermines the very foundations of football governance and calls on all stakeholders in the sport to oppose it.
A multi-billion euro project
According to information revealed in recent hours, Gianni Infantino is working on creating a new commercial entity that would encompass FIFA's major competitions, including the Men's World Cup, the Women's World Cup, and the Club World Cup. This company could be valued at around $20 billion. FIFA would retain control of sporting governance but would offer minority stakes to private investors to raise several billion dollars for the development of global football. Joshua Kushner, founder of the Thrive Eternal fund, is among the investors mentioned in the discussions, while JPMorgan would support the operation.
UEFA denounces a red line being crossed
In its statement, UEFA makes no secret of its opposition : "The revealed facts cross a line that football's governing institutions should never cross." The European organization believes that this proposal must be taken "extremely seriously" by all national federations and all stakeholders in football. : "Every stakeholder should do it: leagues, clubs, players, fans, governments, and everyone who cares about the future of the game."
"Football is not for sale."
The most striking passage of the press release directly addresses the philosophy of the project championed by the FIFHAS : " The soul and governance of football are not assets to be traded, especially with zero transparency regarding those who would profit financially from them.
Before concluding with a sentence that perfectly sums up UEFA's position : "None of us owns football. It's not up to FIFA to sell it."
FIFA defends its project
For its part, FIFA presents this initiative as a way to strengthen the financing of global football. The organization assures that investors would have no power over sporting decisions and that governance would remain entirely in the hands of FIFA and its 211 member federations. The funds raised would be reinvested in the development of football worldwide, and each federation could benefit from a stake in this new structure.
A growing divide
This latest controversy reveals a growing rift between the two main institutions of world football. After several disagreements in recent years regarding the international calendar, the organization of competitions, and the governance of football, the proposed commercialization of some World Cup-related activities opens a new front. The proposal still needs to be presented to FIFA's 211 member associations before any final decision is made, but UEFA's very firm reaction shows that the debate has now begun and could become one of the most explosive in the coming years.
