Sepp Blatter joins Infantino's critics: 'FIFA does not own the World Cup'

Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, has sharply criticized the organization's plan to establish a subsidiary to manage the World Cup and other events, potentially offering stakes to external investors. Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years until 2015, warned that such a move would transform the organization into a profit-oriented entity, thereby losing its soul.

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Football does not belong to any person or any institution. It belongs to the people.

"Football does not belong to any person or any institution. It belongs to the people," Blatter told Reuters. He argued that the World Cup is a part of global football's cultural heritage, and FIFA's role is that of a custodian, not an owner. "FIFA is the custodian of the World Cup, not its owner."

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If FIFA were to transform into a profit-oriented corporate structure, it would lose its soul.

The proposed subsidiary, reportedly valued at $20 billion, aims to manage the World Cup and other FIFA events, with plans to offer up to 20% stakes to outside investors. This initiative has already drawn strong criticism from European football authorities, including UEFA, which accused FIFA of putting the tournament up for sale.

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FIFA is the custodian of the World Cup, not its owner.

Blatter expressed his shock at the proposal, stating he would never have considered such an idea during his tenure. He believes that investors driven by profit and influence are fundamentally at odds with associations that prioritize the interests of their members. "Modern football has survived for more than a century because it belongs to the people," Blatter asserted. "This principle should never change."

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Modern football has survived for more than a century because it belongs to the people. This principle should never change.