Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has publicly condemned the world football governing body's plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup to private investors.
The 90-year-old, who led the organization through a period of massive commercial expansion before stepping down amid corruption scandals, told Reuters that "football belongs to no individual and to no institution.
" The comments add a high-profile voice to the growing opposition against FIFA's strategy to create a $20 billion subsidiary to manage tournament revenues.
It belongs to the people."
The comments add a high-profile voice to the growing opposition against FIFA's strategy to create a $20 billion subsidiary to manage tournament revenues.
The proposed transaction involves selling a 20% stake in the commercial rights, a deal valued at more than $4 billion, which would mark a fundamental shift in how the world's most watched sporting event is financed and governed.
FIFA's privatization push has already faced significant resistance from within its own structure.
Two of the most powerful continental confederations, UEFA and CONCACAF, have voiced sharp objections to the proposal.