The World Cup is not a product, FIFA does not have the right to sell football: UEFA

FIFA, the world's top governing body, has taken up the plan to form a subsidiary worth $ 20 billion to manage the commercial activities of the World Cup and sell part of it to private investors. However, European football's governing body UEFA has strongly opposed this move by the world's governing body, calling it an 'attempt to sell the soul of football'. According to a report by Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, UEFA has expressed extreme anger and made it clear that FIFA does not have the right to sell football or the World Cup as a product.

According to the proposal adopted by FIFA, an independent subsidiary called ‘FIFA Forward Enterprise’ (FFE) will be formed, which will look after the commercial aspects of the main event. While FIFA will retain sole control of the new entity, maintaining the trend of organizing a huge World Cup with 48 teams from all over the world, it is planning to sell ‘minority shares’ to private investors to raise about $4.2 billion. It is reported that an investment group led by Joshua Kushner, a family member of US President Donald Trump, is coming forward to invest in this main fund.

Immediately after FIFA’s news became public, a storm of extreme criticism and controversy erupted in the international sports arena. UEFA said in an official statement that FIFA had crossed an administrative line that threatened the existence of the game. They strongly reminded that international football or its tradition is not a simple marketable product and there is no transparency in it. On the other hand, many political and sports figures from the world, including UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, commented on social media that FIFA’s policy was against the basic ideals of sport.

Despite the criticism, Gianni Infantino's FIFA has maintained its firm stance on its business decisions. The Swiss-based organization claims that the new money raised through the share sale will be used to invest heavily in building football infrastructure around the world, training, developing national teams and developing grassroots and women's football. However, this latest commercial plan has brought the long-standing bilateral cold war between FIFA and UEFA to a head.