Meknes – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strongly criticized plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary for the World Cup, insisting that international football’s flagship tournament is a global community asset rather than a private corporate vehicle.
The ex-FIFA chief, who led the organization for 17 years until 2015, has warned that current president Gianni Infantino’s latest financial proposal pushes the commercialization of global football too far.
The 90-year-old voiced sharp concern over the sport’s shifting priorities, pointing out that global tournaments should serve fans rather than corporate interests.
“Football belongs to no individual and to no institution. It belongs to the people,” Blatter explained in comments to Reuters.
“If FIFA were transferred into a profit-oriented corporate structure, it would lose its soul,” he added.
Blatter’s comments come amid growing controversy over current FIFA President Infantino’s proposal to create a $20 billion commercial subsidiary.
The plan would open up to a 20% minority stake in the World Cup to private equity investors, a move critics argue prioritizes profit over the sport’s traditions.
European football authority UEFA also issued a fierce statement condemning the project and cautioning against commercial transparency risks.
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European football leaders maintain that neither FIFA nor its executives hold the ownership rights to monetize global competitions for private investors.
“UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game,” UEFA stated on Tuesday.
The controversy underscores growing tensions over how international football is managed and monetized.
With major stakeholders pushing back, FIFA’s current leadership faces a tough battle to rally support for its ambitious financial plans.
