Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has voiced strong opposition to the governing body's recent proposal to establish a $20 billion subsidiary to manage the World Cup and related events.
FIFA announced plans to create this entity and offer up to 20% ownership stakes to external investors. The move aims at increasing commercial investment in the tournament but has sparked widespread criticism.
Blatter Warns Against Over-Commercialization
Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years until 2015, described the World Cup as a cultural asset that belongs to the global football community rather than a commercial commodity owned by a select few executives.
"Football belongs to no individual and to no institution. It belongs to the people," said Blatter, emphasizing that turning FIFA into a profit-driven corporate structure would cause it to lose its essence.
He added that during his tenure, such a commercial approach was never considered, and he remains critical of his successor Gianni Infantino's strategy.
Concerns from Football Authorities
The plan has drawn sharp rebuke from football bodies including UEFA, which accused FIFA of effectively putting the sport up for sale.
Blatter also criticized other recent FIFA decisions, such as awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and expanding the tournament to 48 teams.
Preserving Football’s Heritage
According to Blatter, football's foundation lies in its clubs, players, coaches, referees, and fans. FIFA's role should focus on organizing competitions and redistributing income to benefit the sport at all levels—from grassroots to international.
He stressed that the beneficiaries should be the game itself, not outside investors seeking financial returns.
