24 Hrs
Source:
الجزيرة الرياضية
Major federations reject Infantino's World Cup privatization plan
Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football), has proposed a partial privatization of the World Cup through the creation of a giant company called "FIFA Forward Enterprise." This company would handle profitable FIFA activities such as broadcasting rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and event organization, with an estimated value of $20 billion. The plan would allow FIFA to sell up to 20% of its shares to external investors while retaining majority ownership, aiming to generate significant financial gains. A simple majority approval from the member associations is required before September 19, 2026, in exchange for substantial financial packages totaling up to $10 billion, or face financial penalties of up to $2.7 billion if rejected. Major powers like the European Union (UEFA) have rejected the proposal, considering it a move to monetize a global heritage as a financial lever, criticizing the lack of transparency in the plan's development, and accusing it of using a short deadline to pressure smaller associations. They oppose turning the World Cup into a financial asset for trading and ownership transfer.
Size: 120%Text Size
Notice: This Is an AI-Generated Summary
Comments (0)