Andy Burnham slams FIFA World Cup ‘promote out’ in scathing 34-word assault
FIFA has announced plans to launch a new private company to run the World Cup and other competitions, a move that has been met with widespread criticism from Andy Burnham, UEFA and football fans
Infantino has rocked world football(Image: DeFodi Images, DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared “football does not belong to investors” as he added his voice to the backlash against FIFA’s proposal to establish a new private company to oversee the World Cup and other tournaments.
FIFA on Tuesday revealed it was looking to launch FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would combine the sale of FIFA’s commercial rights with the operational management of its competitions.
The new entity would welcome private investors and was swiftly slammed by Europe’s governing body UEFA, which declared in a statement that “the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade”.
He’s slammed FIFA(Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)
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Burnham, a passionate Everton fan, shared a statement on social media to add to the wave of condemnation.
Burnham stated: “Let me say this very directly. Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.
“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.
“Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”
Earlier the Football Supporters’ Association branded the proposal a “new low” from the world governing body as it targeted FIFA president Gianni Infantino. A statement read: “Many supporters came home from the World Cup believing FIFA couldn’t do much more to ruin everything we love about football’s greatest tournament. Less than two weeks after the final ball was kicked, they’ve shown they can always find a new low.
“Like so many across the game, we are furious. We will examine the detail as it emerges, but we will do everything in our power as fans to fight back against the long line of decisions made that seriously threaten the future of football for short-term commercial gain.
“This cannot become another step in Gianni Infantino’s attempt to reshape football without regard for supporters or the wider game. We fully support UEFA’s statement.
“Every governing body, national association, league, club, supporter and stakeholder now has a responsibility to stand together and protect the future of our game.”
