"Nobody is selling football." FIFA issues statement on the sale of a share of World Cup rights

FIFA has issued an official statement on the situation involving the sale of shares of the rights to host the World Cup and other major tournaments to private entities.

"FIFA acknowledges and respects the feedback and concerns expressed in the public domain. FIFA reaffirms its commitment to open and democratic consultation. Erroneous media reports have disrupted the planned discussion process. We have heard the feedback provided by the relevant confederations regarding the proposed creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise.

We will continue the discussions to demonstrate that every FIFA member association has the opportunity to express its opinion based on the facts. FFE was proposed solely so that all FIFA member associations have the opportunity to obtain a meaningful share in the commercial use of football's opportunities in their own countries. At the same time, this step must under no circumstances come at the expense of either the spirit or the governance system of FIFA or of football as a whole.

Nobody is selling football. FIFA would never consider such a proposal. Everyone has the right to express their disagreement and to request additional clarification, but no organization can claim to represent all 211 international associations. Every association must be given the right to review the proposal and to express its opinion regarding its own future. These are FIFA's democratic principles.

FIFA will transfer the commercial and operational activity of organizing events to a subsidiary organization, FFE, which will belong to FIFA and be controlled by it on a permanent basis. The profits will be distributed among all 211 international associations, which will allow each association to make meaningful investments in football in their own countries.

Without the support of the majority, FIFA's commercial activity will remain unchanged. The FFE program will not be created. The proposals may be approved, rejected, or amended — either in full or individually. We are beginning consultations and are open to discussion," the FIFA statement says.

Source: Championat