European leagues and FIFPRO Europe condemn the sale of the World Cup, calling on all participants to unite
July 29 – The board of the European Leagues and the players’ union FIFPRO Europe, moved quickly to criticize FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino’s plan, announced on Monday, to create a privately funded company – FIFA Forward Enterprise – to hold and sell media, sponsorship, ticketing and marketing rights to FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup.
The European Leagues Board met on July 29 (Wednesday) and issued a statement saying that this plan “represents a reckless and divisive development in world football.”
“The World Cup should not be sold. It is not the secret property of the FIFA President. Its value is made day by day by leagues, clubs, players and supporters who are left without a voice or a vote on this matter. The European Leagues firmly reject this proposal.”
The European Leagues say that football is built on an open pyramidal structure and a “critical balance” between domestic and international football. It argues that commercial income should support these foundations, not threaten them.
The European Leagues Board, President Claudius Schäfer said: “FIFA’s latest proposal to sell shares in the World Cup will give private investors the full right to football tomorrow. This will threaten the foundations on which football has developed and succeeded for generations.”
The European Leagues say that “the ambiguous process and the collective proposal are part of a long-term pattern in FIFA’s decision-making – a pattern that has caused the European Leagues to file a complaint with the European Commission on the basis that FIFA’s imposition of decisions on the international game calendar is an abuse of power that violates European competition law.”
It is precisely that abuse that has allowed FIFA to create more space in its calendar of events and ultimately build the amount of assets that Infantino wants to sell. Unsurprisingly, FIFA kept both the European Leagues and FIFPRO out of calendar negotiations as they ate up their new assets to compete in independent markets.
Basic and irreversible reconstruction
FIFPRO Europe in its statement said that turning FIFA tournaments into “a private investment property, (is a step) that will fundamentally and irreversibly renew the incentives that support the tournaments where players work, compete and build their careers.”
Ot added that “it is very worrying that a project of this magnitude was developed mainly behind closed doors and brought to an agreement without meaningful engagement with those most affected. The decision to bypass the recently established negotiation mechanisms between FIFA and FIFPRO reinforces these concerns.”
The statement continues: “This proposal also raises important concerns about the future governance of world football and the integrity of the game. The participation of stakeholders in FIFA’s decision-making has always been limited. It must not now be removed due to commercial influence, which allows financial interests to override the voices of those who play, support and support the game. FIFPRO will never support such a model.”
FIFPRO Europe asked “FIFA to review its proposal without delay.”
Both European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe are calling for wider action by stakeholders
“All national football associations, at the moment, have a responsibility that goes beyond today’s financial profit or tomorrow’s commercial values,” said FIFPRO Europe.
“Governments, public authorities, confederations, leagues, clubs and fans also have a role to play in ensuring that football remains a community asset, not just a commercial commodity.”
Schäfer of the European Leagues concluded: “Responsible football leaders have a duty to stand together in opposition to this proposal not only for today’s game, but for future generations of players and supporters, ensuring that we pass on a healthy, stable and honest game to the principles that have turned the world game.”
See: Infantino gives national organizations September 19 deadline to accept $20m FFE ‘bribe’
AFC and Concacaf want ‘process’ and ‘better governance’ after being given ‘mushroom treatment’ by Infantino
UEFA says the World Cup does not belong to FIFA and should be sold, calling the FAs to an emergency meeting
The sale of the century. Infantino proposes $20bn FIFA rights sold with Trumps first in line to benefit
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