European Leagues chief deems Infantino's World Cup privatisation plan unacceptable

Claudius Schafer, a former senior official of the German Football Association, warned that there can be “only one consequence” for FIFA President Gianni Infantino if the governing body proceeds with its proposed privatisation of the World Cup. Schafer made the remark during a press conference in Berlin, where he was asked to comment on Infantino’s recent proposal to transfer the commercial and operational rights of the tournament to a private consortium in order to generate additional revenue for the sport.

The privatisation plan, unveiled by Infantino in a series of meetings with potential investors, aims to create a new corporate structure that would manage broadcasting, sponsorship and venue contracts for future World Cups. Critics, including Schafer, argue that the move could undermine FIFA’s accountability and jeopardise the equitable distribution of profits among member associations. FIFA has indicated that the proposal will be reviewed by its Council and subject to a vote at the upcoming congress, while stakeholders await clarification on the legal and financial implications of the shift to private ownership.