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FIFA President Infantino plans to sell stakes in World Cup rights
🇩🇪 Germany /Sports

FIFA President Infantino plans to sell stakes in World Cup rights

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino is reportedly planning to sell stakes in a new subsidiary, FFE, which will hold commercial rights to major tournaments like the men's and women's World Cups.
  • The deal could be worth over 17 billion euros, with private investors potentially acquiring 20 percent of FFE, valued at $20 billion.
  • UEFA has expressed strong opposition, criticizing the lack of transparency and stating that football's leadership should not be treated as a tradable asset.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is reportedly moving to sell stakes in a newly established subsidiary, the Football Finance Enterprise (FFE), which will consolidate commercial rights for major tournaments including the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup. Reports from The Times, The Telegraph, and the Financial Times indicate that preliminary agreements on the terms of this deal have already been signed.

UEFA takes this matter extremely seriously. All national football associations should do so too.

— UEFAUEFA's statement regarding the potential sale of FIFA's commercial rights.

The potential deal is valued at over 17 billion euros (approximately $18.5 billion). Under the proposed structure, private investors could acquire around 20 percent of the FFE, which is initially valued at $20 billion. This move has sparked significant concern within the European football governing body, UEFA.

The soul and leadership of football are not assets to be traded – especially when it is completely transparent who financially benefits.

— UEFAUEFA's criticism of the lack of transparency in FIFA's proposed deal.

UEFA issued a strong statement condemning the plan, warning that a line has been crossed. The organization emphasized that football's soul and leadership are not assets to be traded, especially when the beneficiaries of such a deal remain unclear. UEFA asserted that no single entity owns football and it is not FIFA's prerogative to sell it.

None of us own football. It is not for FIFA to sell it.

— UEFAUEFA's assertion that football belongs to no single entity and FIFA cannot sell it.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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