Watzke warns over FIFA plan: “A line is being crossed here” | OneFootball

A FIFA plan, driven above all by Gianni Infantino, has recently made headlines. The issue is the sale of stakes in future World Cups to investors.

A report by the Times on Tuesday caused outrage across the football world. According to the report, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is planning to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The aim is to generate many millions in revenue.

According to the report, Infantino’s plan would involve creating a company that would ultimately control both the World Cup and the Club World Cup. At the head of the company, once his final term as FIFA boss ends, would be Infantino. That in turn makes it all the more likely that the World Cup will become even bigger.

Watzke voices sharp criticism

Hans-Joachim Watzke has now spoken out, after UEFA already issued an official statement yesterday.

“Many in European football see FIFA’s plans as an outright attack on football. I share that view. A line is being crossed here. There is broad unity on this among the member associations, as several conversations I have had in recent days with Aleksander Ceferin and other colleagues have shown me,” Watzke told kicker.

Photo: IMAGO

He continued: “At the World Cup, six European teams reached the quarter-finals and three made the semi-finals. If European football stands united against these plans, that carries a great deal of weight.”

Watzke also received support from LaLiga president Javier Tebas: “This does not look like reform. It looks like a campaign financed with the future of football. Development must not be used to buy votes or silence.”

So the pushback against Infantino is very much there, and it is proving to be quite fierce.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.