Brussels, Belgium – The European Union has escalated its rhetoric towards FIFA, warning that the proposal to sell stakes in World Cup tournaments could conflict with European competition laws, amid concerns about its repercussions for the future of the game.
The European Union’s Commissioner for Sport, Glenn Micallef, said the European Commission would study the plan carefully, noting that any sporting arrangements with economic implications are subject to EU competition rules.
Micallef stressed, in statements published on his social media accounts, that proposals to sell minority stakes in FIFA’s commercial activities raise questions about the governance and independence of the international federation, and could lead to a conflict of interest between the federation’s regulatory role and the interests of investors.
He added that football should not be turned into a commercial commodity, arguing that expanding its exploitation for investment purposes threatens the values that made it the most popular sport in the world.
The European Commissioner for Sport noted that the Commission will follow developments in light of previous rulings by the European Court of Justice, which confirmed that sports regulations are subject to EU law when their effects extend to economic aspects.
Micallef’s comments come in the wake of escalating controversy over FIFA’s plan to launch a new commercial entity encompassing broadcasting rights, sponsorship, ticketing and hospitality, while opening the door for outside investors to take a stake in it.
In the same context, the European federations that are members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are preparing to hold an emergency virtual meeting this week to discuss a unified position on the project, in light of the increasing objections to the plan led by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
