FIFA sellout: Former chief Blatter slams $20bn deal. Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, strongly criticised the proposal to sell a minority stake in a new commercial subsidiary that would manage World Cup rights. He argued that the FIFA sellout would turn football into a profit-driven product for private investors, rather than protecting it as a cultural asset.
Blatter told Reuters that the World Cup “belongs to the people” and should never become an investment product. He warned that if FIFA were transferred into a profit-oriented corporate structure, it would lose its soul. His comments came as FIFA faces mounting opposition from UEFA, the FA, and Concacaf over the lack of transparency in the plan.
However, Blatter’s intervention sparked widespread accusations of hypocrisy on social media. Many users pointed to the corruption scandals that ended his presidency, including a criminal investigation into a payment to Michel Platini. Critics argued that he was poorly placed to comment on governance after his own controversial tenure.
The proposal involves creating a commercial entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise, valued at $20 billion, with a 20% stake sold to investors led by Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Eternal. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has given member associations until September 19 to vote. Despite FIFA’s promise of funding for associations, the plan continues to draw fierce criticism from football bodies and fans alike.