The World Cup Is Not for Sale
Gianni Infantino’s private-equity scheme backfired—but the commodification of soccer is already well under way.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed splitting the commercial rights of the World Cup into a for-profit company and selling a 20% stake to private investors. In return, FIFA's 211 member federations were to receive $40 million each, meant to boost the sport's development. The idea of putting the World Cup up for sale was quickly met with widespread condemnation.
UEFA, the governing body of European football, stated that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade" and vowed to boycott all FIFA events until the proposal was withdrawn. CONCACAF, representing North and South American federations, also voiced its opposition. The A.F.C., representing Asia's federations, protested the secretive process by which the proposal was made.
Infantino's senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest, calling the plan "mortgaging football's future." Despite the strong opposition, Infantino's proposal was eventually withdrawn, and he may now face a challenge in reëlection for the FIFA presidency.
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