FIFA vowed on Friday to press on with its “open and democratic” consultation with stakeholders on a proposed private investment plan despite fierce backlash from European football governing body UEFA and others.
“Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports,” world football governing body FIFA said in a statement. “We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”
European football’s governing body UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup should FIFA press ahead with its private investor plan.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product… No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that the proposed launch of a private subsidiary to exploit the commercial benefits of the World Cup was “an opportunity but not an obligation”.
A proposal to sell stakes in FIFA’s major competitions sparked disbelief and outrage globally since it was revealed Tuesday, but Infantino defended the idea, saying too little of football’s commercial value reached the parts of the game that need it most.
“FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, is actually a proposal, an offer. It’s part of a democratic process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation,” Infantino said in a video released Wednesday evening.
“It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally. But again, it is just an offer, not an obligation.”
Infantino insisted the proposal was centred on unlocking “previously uncaptured commercial value” and was conditional on a democratic vote of FIFA’s 211 member associations and approval by the FIFA council.
“Capturing that value requires additional expertise, additional insight, distinct from governing and developing the sport,” he said.
“It would simply commercialise and organise all FIFA-owned competitions along with sponsorship, broadcast, licensing and new ventures for the benefit of FIFA’s 211 member associations.”
Infantino said the game would not change and the fans would be happier.
“Fans from everywhere in the world would gain immeasurably from this game-changing potential because it will transform football in their countries,” he said.
By Agencies
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