Concacaf seek transparency over FIFA’s plan to sell stake in World Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) has joined at least two other confederations in seeking transparency from the sport’s global governing body, FIFA, about announced plans to seek private investments in future World Cup finals.
In a release posted on their various social media platforms on Wednesday, Concacaf expressed their concerns over what they called “lack of due process” saying they were only made aware of the matter via media reports.
The Central American Football Union (UNCAF), a subsidiary of Concacaf also liked the release saying on the X account, “UNCAF supports Concacafs position and reiterates that any matter of this nature should be addressed through the appropriate governance processes and bodies.”
FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino has come under fire from several football bodies including UEFA and the English FA after news of plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Reports also say FIFA has reached out to the over 200 national federations promising US$40 million (approximately J$6.4billion) to each federation if they supported the moved.
In their release, Concacaf said in addition to being “deeply concerned by the lack of due process,” said they shared “the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place.”
Concacaf said they were collectively custodians of the game, “FIFA, the confederations and every member association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport, every decision we make must be guided by good governance, robust processes and long-term stewardship.
“This is the framework with which Concacaf operates. We trust that all within the FIFA family will act in the same manner,” the release also stated.
— Paul A Reid