Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA competitions, arguing that the initiative could enable developing nations to fund football without relying on government intervention, The PUNCH reports.
- +Pinnick backs FIFA $40m funding over government support
Pinnick, who serves as deputy chairperson of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, said Infantino had consistently introduced reforms that had benefited football associations across the world.
Pinnick, who serves as deputy chairperson of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, said Infantino had consistently introduced reforms that had benefited football associations across the world.
Infantino has written to all 211 FIFA member associations urging them to support the creation of a new commercial structure for FIFA competitions. The Times first reported details of the letter outlining the proposal.
Under the plan, FIFA would establish a new commercial subsidiary valued at $20bn, with private investors owning a 20 per cent stake. The company would manage the commercial rights to competitions including the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
The 211 member associations have until September 19 to approve or reject the proposal, which has already attracted criticism from several football governing bodies, particularly in Europe.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Thursday, Pinnick said the proposal should not be viewed as controversial, arguing that it had the potential to generate more revenue for FIFA’s member associations.
“When I was NFF president, personally, I funded some small countries with $20,000 or $40,000 so that they could go out and honour their matches. Each member association will have about $20m from this investment and another $20m from the FIFA Forward Programme. So, if you have $40m, you don’t need government to run football,” Pinnick said on Arise TV.
“What people should be bothered about is the integrity of the fund and the company, the disbursement and the use of the funds, and I know FIFA also has their control mechanisms.”
Meanwhile, the president of the Confederation of African Football, Dr Patrice Motsepe, will host a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee next week to assess and evaluate the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
“CAF also encourages its Member Associations to examine the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal and participate in the consultation process in accordance with CAF and FIFA’s regulations and established procedures,” CAF said in a statement on Monday.
“CAF is committed to continue consulting and working together with its Member Associations, FIFA, other Football Confederations and stakeholders in support of increasing financial and other resources for the development and growth of football in Africa and worldwide.”
Member associations currently receive $8m under the current arrangement.
Neither CAF nor the NFF has publicly stated its position on the proposal. The NFF is also scheduled to hold its elective congress in September.
However, both CAF president Patrice Motsepe and NFF president Ibrahim Gusau have consistently expressed support for Infantino’s leadership in recent times. Motsepe recently endorsed the FIFA president’s reform agenda, while Gusau also backed Infantino’s bid for another term in office.
