FIFA’s pitch to members to back its plan to sell off part of the game to private investors includes some potentially radical cash generation ideas – but makes no mention of women’s football
The World Cup could be held every two years on pay-per-view TV – while women’s football is set to drop off the map, according to FIFA’s plans.
Its pitch to convince members to agree to a sell-off to private investors involves staging more tournaments with higher ticket prices – and the end of matches televised for free.
A 25-page document called ‘FIFA Forward Enterprise Member Materials’ makes the case for the creation of a new company to run its commercial operations.
According to the plans 20% of it would be sold to Joshua Kushner – the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared.
The prospectus has been produced by JP Morgan, the US bank behind the failed European Super League breakaway five years ago.
The bank makes clear members will rake in more cash from a ‘growing tournament portfolio’, ‘third party sources of capital and debt financing’ and by prioritising ‘high yield’ partnerships and events.
There is a reference to more than doubling the number of global tournaments held each year from 200 to 450 which would put a huge strain on player workload.
Staging the World Cup more often – as FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has suggested previously – would raise revenue.
The bank also raises the prospect of TV coverage of the biggest events – such as the World Cup – being sold to subscription channels or streamers under a plan to ‘expand and optimize media rights monetization’.
There is not a single mention of women’s football anywhere across the 25 pages.
England will boycott the World Cup if Infantino goes ahead with his plans.
The Three Lions joined 54 other UEFA members in agreeing the historic sanction at a crisis meeting on the 60th anniversary of England’s only World Cup triumph in 1966.
The European football body agreed unanimously to fight the controversial move to flog the tournament to private investors.
The decision – taken after a virtual emergency meeting – could trigger the collapse of Infantino’s scheme.
He had told FIFA’s 211 associations they only have until September 19 to sign up or face financial consequences.
If they back it they would each pocket £30m while a snub will mean they take a 75% hit.
Should the FIFA president press ahead the first tournament to be hit by the mass boycott would be the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year.
The UEFA meeting was chaired by its president Aleksander Ceferin.
The decision is seen as one of the most significant moments in FIFA’s chequered history.
Representatives from more than 40 federations – including the English FA – spoke at the summit.
A source said there was ‘total unanimity’ and ‘lots of anger’.
In a statement UEFA said: “We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
“The World Cup is not for sale.
“This is not a ‘democratic decision’ but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.
“Some things are simply too important to sell.
“The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will.
“And so long as Europe has a voice it will never be for sale.”
An FA spokesman said: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support the collective view. “We oppose FIFA’s plans.
“The FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will.”
The boycott was backed by the UK Government.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: “This is a principled decision that we strongly support.
“Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. “Enough is enough.
“It’s time to take a stand to protect our game.”
Women’s World Cup qualifying matches are due to start on October 9 when England are meant to play their first leg against Greece.
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are also in the play-offs.
A Women’s Under-20 World Cup begins on September 5.
England are one of six European participants in this tournament hosted by Poland.
The men’s World Cup in 2030 was due to be hosted by the reigning champions Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Spain and Portugal will boycott their own tournament if Infantino goes ahead with his plan.
FIFA sparked outrage after announcing it intends to ‘invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments’ in a new commercial sister company.
The spin-off FIFA Forward Enterprise – aka FFE – would bring together the sale of the body’s commercial rights including broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing with the operational delivery of its tournaments including the World Cup.
FIFA plans raise up to £3.1bn by selling off part of it.
But the move sparked outrage across the football world at the prospect of the most prestigious tournament falling into private hands – and potential influence.
UEFA’s boycott could be decisive.
While European countries make up only a quarter of FIFA’s members they are the powerhouse of world football.
Six of the eight quarter-finalists at the World Cup were from the continent – including champs Spain and third-placed England.
A World Cup without European teams would slash its value.
Infantino suffered another blow when Sheikh Salman, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, wrote to his 47 members expressing ‘great concern and disappointment’ at the move which appeared to ‘undermine the very foundations of continental football’ based on ‘solidarity, co-operation and transparency’.
The leadership of the Concacaf federation – which represents 41 countries in North and Central America and the Caribbean – also criticised the plan.
FIFA had not responded to a request for comment.