FIFA plan for Kushner-backed $20 billion operation to run World Cup meets fury from Europe’s UEFA
FIFA says the new entity could raise $4.2 billion and lift annual development funding for its 211 member associations to $20 million each.
- Later this week, UEFA's 55 member associations, including the Football Association of Wales , will hold an emergency meeting to discuss a potential boycott of the World Cup following FIFA's proposal to sell a roughly 20% stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise.
- FIFA claims it will retain "exclusive authority" over regulatory decisions while arguing the new entity will increase development spending to more than $7.5 billion over four years, including raising annual payments to $5 million and a $20 million one-off payout per member.
- UEFA stated the plan "crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross," while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham asserted "football does not belong to investors" and called the World Cup "not a product."
- Representing 41 members, Concacaf expressed it was "deeply concerned by the lack of due process," noting the proposal was revealed without prior discussion with relevant governance bodies and stakeholders.
- Potential investors include Thrive Eternal, led by Joshua Kushner, though a World Cup without European representation would significantly slash the tournament's value given Europe's status as football's powerhouse.
536 Articles
536 Articles
UEFA President Ceferin and DFB-Vize Watzke scold against Infantino's FIFA plans. However, not out of love for sports and his fans.
Nobody is selling football: FIFA issues clarification on investment plan - The Tribune
FIFA had on Tuesday announced that it was seeking to launch FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to bring together the sale of FIFA's commercial rights, right from broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing, with the operational delivery of its tournaments. Under this proposal, FIFA would raise up to 4.2 billion USD (3.1 billion pounds) via external investors through the sale of minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE, which FIFA says will be valued at around 20 billion USD (15 billion pounds).
FIFA offers member associations new funding as governance concerns grow
FIFA’s proposal to create a $20 billion commercial subsidiary is being presented as a funding mechanism for the global game. The sharper question is whether immediate capital can be separated from the incentives private investors would bring into the organization’s most valuable competitions. Under the plan, FIFA Forward Enterprise would control commercial rights such as broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing, while also handling the…
Infantino’s World Cup commercialisation push hits a brick wall
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has unveiled a commercial project. It could become one of the biggest financial ventures in the organisation’s history. The plan would partially privatise FIFA’s commercial operations, most notably the World Cup. For the first time, outside investors would be allowed to take a stake in these activities. Below, Al-Kanari breaks down the key elements of the proposal, how it would work, its potential value, and why i…
Leader-Telegram
Opposition to FIFA's World Cup private equity plan grows as Asia warns of risks and Europeans meet
Global opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan for selling a stake in World Cup revenue to private investors has grown. Asia’s soccer leader has warned member federations about threats from the FIFA plan to their own competitions. Asian Football…
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