FRF takes a stand! Răzvan Burleanu's clear announcement on World Cup 'sale' amid Gianni Infantino's alleged bribery plans

The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has firmly rejected FIFA's proposal to sell up to 20% of commercial rights for its major tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors. FRF President Răzvan Burleanu announced the federation's opposition, emphasizing that football should not be treated as a business driven by commercial interests. He criticized FIFA, led by Gianni Infantino, for initiating the plan without prior consultation with national federations or FIFA Council members, stating that the news emerged through the press.

Burleanu described the initiative as a "dangerous privatization of football," arguing that fundamental competitions should not become commercial products for investment funds. He echoed UEFA's concerns that private investor involvement could pressure organizers to expand competitions and prioritize commercial interests over the sport itself. The FRF believes that the "soul and governance" of football are not tradable assets, and the sport belongs to its fans, not speculative interests.

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FRF se opune categoric inițiativei venite din partea conducerii FIFA, așa cum a făcut-o și în urmă câțiva ani, când din nou acest subiect s-a aflat pe agenda publică a fotbalului internațional, fiind atunci vorba despre Softbank.

In response to the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, the FRF has suspended its support for Gianni Infantino's bid for a new FIFA presidency term. Burleanu stated that the potential sale of the World Cup to an investment fund conflicts with the mission to protect football's development. He pointed out that FIFA is financially stable with solid reserves, questioning the necessity of such a move. The FRF's stance aligns with other European federations that are wary of the potential impact on football's independence and integrity.

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Vânzarea integrală sau parțială a Cupei Mondiale către un fond de investiții reprezintă un conflict cu misiunea pe care ne-am asumat-o la nivel național sau internațional de a proteja dezvoltarea fotbalului.