FIFA says it is not selling football as it defends World Cup investor plan | OneFootball

FIFA said in a statement on Friday that it is not trying to sell football as it set out details of its plan to open World Cup operations to private investors. It also criticised sections of the media for disrupting consultation with incorrect information.

Backlash has followed the unveiling of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, with criticism directed at the organisation and its president Gianni Infantino. UEFA and CONCACAF have threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if the plan is implemented.

The proposal is presented as a way for every member association to take charge of domestic commercial opportunities without compromising the spirit of the game or FIFA’s governance.

Under FFE, commercial and operational event duties would move into a subsidiary permanently owned and controlled by FIFA. Revenues would be shared across all 211 associations, with each to receive 20 million US dollars, about €17.3m, from the FIFA Forward programme in 2027-2030, regardless of their stance.

Additional funding would come from stronger management of commercial activities. A separate FIFA Fast Forward scheme is outlined as a voluntary, one-off 20 million US dollars payment per association if FFE proceeds, financed by external investment, with no transfer of control or governance change.

The project will not proceed without majority support, at least 106 of 211 associations. If approved, Thrive Eternal is set to lead the prospective investor group. The American firm was founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the US president Donald Trump.

Source: L'Équipe