Former FIFA President Blatter Accuses Infantino Of Damaging Football Through Ties With Trump Amid Privatisation Row
Former FIFA President Blatter Accuses Infantino Of Damaging Football Through Ties With Trump Amid Privatisation Row
Blatter made the remarks in a post on X on Tuesday amid growing controversy over reports that FIFA is considering opening its flagship competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, to private investment.
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has accused his successor, Gianni Infantino, of taking football into dangerous commercial territory through his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, warning that no individual has the right to “sell” the sport.
Blatter made the remarks in a post on X on Tuesday amid growing controversy over reports that FIFA is considering opening its flagship competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, to private investment.
“The close relationship between the FIFA President and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football,” Blatter wrote.
“No one has the right to sell our game. #GianniInfantino #DonaldTrump #FIFA #UEFA #USA #Sellout.”
The European football governing body UEFA had also strongly criticised reports that FIFA President Infantino was backing a plan to sell minority stakes in a new commercial entity that would oversee FIFA’s most lucrative competitions.
SaharaReporters had reported that FIFA recently unveiled plans to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial entity that would consolidate the organisation’s commercial and event operations.
According to FIFA, the enterprise would seek to raise $4.2 billion through the sale of minority, non-controlling interests to long-term investors as part of plans to expand football development funding to more than $10 billion.
However, The Times reported that the proposal goes beyond fundraising and could eventually involve selling commercial stakes linked to the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The newspaper also reported that individuals close to U.S. President Trump had been consulted over the proposal.
If implemented, the plan could result in FIFA’s flagship tournaments being managed by a commercial company outside the governing body’s traditional non-profit structure.
Reacting to the reports, UEFA warned that football’s governance should not become a commercial asset.
“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” UEFA said.
“UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.”
The European football governing body added: “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.”
Blatter’s latest intervention adds to mounting criticism of the reported proposal, with opponents arguing that opening the World Cup to private investors could fundamentally alter the governance and ownership structure of football’s most prestigious competitions.
Infantino, who is expected to seek another term as FIFA president next year, has not publicly responded to either UEFA’s criticism or Blatter’s latest comments. According to The Times, if re-elected and after leaving office, he could eventually lead the proposed commercial entity as its commissioner.
