Former NFF president backs FIFA plan to sell World Cup stake

by · The Eagle Online

Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has backed FIFA’s proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup and other competitions, insisting the initiative should be judged on its merits rather than dismissed as controversial.

Pinnick, who serves as deputy chairperson of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, said FIFA president Gianni Infantino had consistently introduced reforms that had benefited football associations across the world.

The proposal, unveiled earlier this week, would allow private investors to acquire minority stakes in FIFA’s flagship competitions. It has, however, attracted criticism from UEFA, CONCACAF and several football stakeholders. Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Thursday, Pinnick said he had not yet received the official proposal but expressed confidence in Infantino’s leadership.

Pinnick said: “First, I will say that I am not totally equipped to speak on this issue. I have not seen any mail to that effect. One thing I know is that Gianni does not just wake up and give a proposal. He consults extensively.”

Recalling his first meeting with Infantino during the Swiss administrator’s FIFA presidential campaign, Pinnick said he initially doubted a promise to increase financial support for member associations.

He said: “He told me, ‘Now you receive $200,000. Once I get elected, you will now start receiving $1.25 million.’ “I said, ‘That is a big lie.’ “But when he got elected, he immediately started paying $1.25 million.

For a cycle, each football association was getting about $6 million.” Pinnick argued that the latest proposal followed the same reform-driven approach and should be subjected to a vote by FIFA’s members.

He added: “Gianni is making a proposal. “As president of FIFA or the head of an organisation, you have the right to make a proposal. “It behoves members to accept it or reject it. We shouldn’t call everything a controversy.”

According to the former NFF president, the biggest beneficiaries of the proposal would be FIFA’s member associations. Pinnick said: “The shareholders are the member football associations, Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, South Africa and others.

These are the main beneficiaries.” He also claimed the initiative could significantly improve football administration across member countries.

He said: “If, for example, you have $40 million, trust me, you don’t need government to run football. “What people should be concerned about is the integrity of the funds, the integrity of the people involved, the consortium or company, and how the funds are utilised.”

Responding to fears that private investors could influence FIFA’s decisions, Pinnick said football had always evolved through reforms that initially faced resistance. He said: “When VAR was introduced, there was a lot of criticism.

Today, VAR has come to stay.” On reports that United States President Donald Trump contacted Infantino over a refereeing decision during the FIFA World Cup, Pinnick dismissed suggestions of interference.

He said: “If the President of America calls Gianni, will Gianni not pick up his call? Definitely, he will. “But because the President of America called Gianni, it becomes a story. I know what he did; he did according to the books and the statutes.”

Pinnick’s comments come amid growing debate over FIFA’s proposed restructuring of its commercial operations, with football stakeholders divided over the potential benefits and implications of allowing private investment in the governing body’s flagship competitions.

The Eagle Online reports that all 55 UEFA member associations have voted to support a boycott of FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup, in protest against the proposed investment plan.

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