Uefa has reacted furiously to proposals from Fifa to seek private investment in its competitions, including the World Cup.
According to a story in The Times, Fifa intends to expand “football development funding” to more than $10bn and invite third-party investment in a new venture.
In a lengthy statement outlining the proposals, Fifa says it will “invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments” in a new subsidiary – Fifa Forward Enterprise- to “consolidate” its commercial and event operations.
The plan still needs to be passed by a vote of Fifa’s 211 member nations, but if approval is granted, Fifa says Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.
Thrive is an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Times story claimed the plans could potentially earn Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, tens of millions of pounds.
BBC Sport however says it has been told by Fifa sources that there have been no discussions over Infantino, or anyone else, becoming chief executive of FFE.
Uefa, European football’s governing body, has issued a statement criticising the proposals, which it claimed “crosses a line”.
“Uefa takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell.”
The matter is likely to be a topic of conversation at the next Fifa Council meeting in the autumn and then around the Fifa Intercontinental Cup, featuring Champions League winners Paris St-Germain, in December.
