England FA and France’s football federation have hit out at Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell FIFA World Cup stakes. Both associations have said they are unaware of any such proposals and oppose the plans.
Infantino has reportedly given all football associations until September 19 to back his plan to sell a part of FIFA to private investors. He wants to raise $4.2 billion by selling minority, non-controlling stakes in the Football Forward Enterprise, which controls the organisation’s commercial rights, including broadcasting, sponsorships, licensing, and ticketing.
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In statements released on Wednesday, July 29, the England FA stated that they have been left in the dark about the proposal and are not aware of it. They want FIFA to be transparent in their approach and said:
“We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached. Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved. When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear, and comment further.”
Philippe Hamidou Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, has also made a similar comment, saying that they are surprised to be left clueless about the plans.
“We discovered through a press release a very important project on which we have no details and which, in relation to its orientation, that is to say to bring in investment funds within the framework of a commercial company alongside FIFA, raises many questions, without the members that we are, federations, having been able to be associated and have no particular element to express themselves on subjects that are obviously fundamental. I will have contacts today with my main colleagues from the major European federations, with the president of UEFA, to find out how we should approach his projects on which we have no particular information.”
FIFA have the plan ready and have stated that it will help their member associations gain over $10 billion over the next four years (FIFA World Cup period) if it goes through. They need over 50% of the members to back them for the plan to be executed.
England and France reached the FIFA World Cup semifinal this year
England and France had a stunning FIFA World Cup this summer, with both sides reaching the semifinal. The two sides faced off in the third-place playoffs and played the most entertaining match of the tournament.
England clinched third place at the FIFA World Cup, beating France 6-4 in the playoff. They were 4-0 ahead at half-time, but a fightback from the 2018 champions in the second half saw the match finish 6-4.
Edited by Sripad