Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised FIFA’s plan to create a new $20 billion subsidiary designed to oversee the World Cup and other competitions, arguing the tournament should not be treated like a profit-making asset controlled by a small group of executives.
Blatter brands the World Cup model “too commercial”
Speaking at the age of 90, Blatter—who led FIFA for 17 years until stepping down in 2015—said the proposal advanced by his successor, Gianni Infantino, risks taking the commercialisation of football beyond acceptable limits.
“Football belongs to no individual and to no institution. It belongs to the people,” Blatter told Reuters.
He added that placing FIFA into a corporate, profit-first framework would strip the organisation of its “soul,” and said he would not have contemplated such a shift during his own time in charge.
FIFA’s subsidiary plan and the reaction from football authorities
FIFA said on Tuesday it intends to establish the subsidiary to manage the World Cup and its other events. The governing body also plans to sell external investors stakes of up to 20% in the venture.
The idea has drawn strong backlash across the sport, with UEFA among those voicing concern. UEFA warned that FIFA was effectively putting the game up for sale.
Long-running tensions with Infantino and Blatter’s wider criticisms
Blatter and Infantino have frequently clashed. Infantino, a fellow Swiss, took over FIFA in 2016 after a corruption scandal brought an end to Blatter’s own tenure. Blatter was later cleared of corruption allegations.
Beyond the subsidiary proposal, Blatter has also criticised FIFA decisions including the awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, as well as the expansion of this year’s tournament to 48 teams.
“The FIFA World Cup is not a commercial asset that belongs to a handful of executives,” Blatter said. “It is part of the cultural heritage of world football. FIFA is the guardian of the World Cup, not its owner. There is a fundamental difference.”
What Blatter says should guide the sport’s governance
Blatter argued that pursuing influence and returns would run counter to the mission of football associations, which are meant to protect the interests of their members. He said the sport’s deep connection to the public has helped sustain it for more than a century.
- He said that principle “should never change.”
- He described the sport’s true foundation as clubs, players, coaches, referees and fans.
- He said FIFA’s job is to administer football, stage competitions and redistribute income.
- He argued that beneficiaries should be the game itself—from grassroots football up to the highest international level—rather than outside investors chasing profits.
“The beneficiaries should be the game itself — from grassroots football to the highest international level — not outside investors seeking returns,” Blatter said.
