By God’sbest Christ’sfullness
Football organisations and stakeholders have criticised FIFA’s reported plan to sell a stake in the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup and other major competitions through a semi-private subsidiary.
The proposal has drawn opposition from football authorities across Europe and North America, with critics raising concerns about governance, transparency and the independence of the sport.
UEFA said football’s governance should not be treated as a commercial asset, insisting that no organisation owns the game or has the right to sell its future.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football also questioned the proposal, citing a lack of consultation before it was presented.
German Football Association Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke described the plan as a threat to football, while La Liga president Javier Tebas argued that the proposal risked using the sport’s future for political purposes.
The English Football Association also criticised the process, saying it had not received enough information and expressing concern about the governance behind the proposal.
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo said national associations had not been properly involved in discussions, while former FIFA president Sepp Blatter accused the governing body of taking a direction that could damage football.
The proposal also attracted criticism from political leaders. European Union Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef warned that linking FIFA’s regulatory powers with private financial interests could create governance and conflict-of-interest concerns, while UK politician Andy Burnham said football should remain in the hands of supporters rather than investors.
FIFA has not publicly responded to the criticism.
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