European Football Clubs raise strong concern over Gianni Infantino’s World Cup commercial plan | OneFootball

European Football Clubs, the European clubs’ association, has expressed deep concern at a FIFA plan to set up a commercial company and sell stakes in the World Cup.

According to The Times and a FIFA statement, Gianni Infantino is considering offering shares in the tournament to private investors via a new vehicle, a move that has provoked an outcry across the sport.

Following reactions from FFF president Philippe Diallo and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, EFC, formerly known as ECA, set out its misgivings over the unilateral nature of the initiative.

The organisation, chaired by Nasser al-Khelaïfi, said the sudden, unilateral press releases were troubling and that, as the body representing more than 850 clubs, it should be fully consulted on a proposal of this scale.

It added that it learned of the plan through the media without prior notice, and called for calm, extensive consultation on all issues affecting football’s ecosystem, alongside stricter and more transparent governance to protect the sport in the long term.

Source: L'Équipe