Infantino insists FIFA’s World Cup system is an idea and not a ‘responsibility’ | Football News

Football governing bodies fight plans to sell World Cup shares; FIFA insists the request is not an ‘obligation’.

FIFA president Gianni ⁠Infantino has described the plan to sell shares in the World Cup as an idea but “not an obligation”, after the idea sparked an angry response from several football officials.

FIFA announced plans this week to create a $20bn fund to run the World Cup and its other events, and said it would give 20% of the money to foreign investors.

The deal drew widespread criticism from the game’s regional governing bodies, who say they were blindsided by the plan the world governing body wants to bring investors into the game.

But Infantino said boosting the commercial side of the sport is the next natural step in this evolution.

“It’s part of democracy – a process of discussion – and above all, it’s a privilege but not an obligation, and, as I said, it’s starting to be discussed,” Infantino said in a video provided by FIFA on Wednesday.

FIFA is one of the richest organizations in the world, generating billions of dollars in revenue, mainly from broadcasting rights, sponsorships and other World Cup-related sales.

Infantino insisted in his speech that the fans will remain in the corner of football and said, “FIFA obviously continues to control football without interference from others.

“And the leading competition that creates it, like the FIFA World Cup or the FIFA Women’s World Cup, will still be there.”