Premier League chief says Fifa self-destructed over World Cup
Richard Masters criticizes Gianni Infantino over aborted 21% stake sale plan and backs FA's withdrawal of support.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Richard Masters claims FIFA has pressed its own self-destruct button
- The FFE plan to sell a 21% stake was aborted after fierce backlash
- Premier League backs the English FA in withdrawing support for Infantino
- No candidate has emerged to challenge Infantino ahead of the November deadline
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has launched a scathing critique against FIFA, stating that the global governing body has effectively self-destructed following its controversial World Cup commercial plans and attempts to restructure tournament rights management.
The controversial project, known as Fifa Forward Enterprise or FFE, aimed to create a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for all FIFA competitions while selling off a 21 percent stake to a private investment company. However, the plan was ultimately scrapped following widespread criticism from several confederations led by UEFA.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Masters firmly backed the English Football Association's decision to withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino, while calling for a unifying candidate to step forward before the November 18 deadline to heal divisions within global football governance ahead of the presidential election next March.
"This is a self-inflicted wound. The organisation has pressed the self-destruct button, and the consequence of that flow now into the solutions to be that need to be found."
The rift deepened last week when UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation issued a joint open letter accusing FIFA and Infantino of breaching trust through deception, emphasizing that the controversy centers fundamentally on the integrity of the game and its leadership.
The escalating friction between major European football stakeholders and FIFA highlights a profound ideological and commercial battle over who controls the financial future of international tournaments. As elite leagues and regional bodies demand greater transparency, the governance structure of world football faces unprecedented pressure for structural reform.
During his comprehensive interview ahead of the new Premier League season, Masters also addressed tournament governance issues from the recent North American World Cup, including the controversial review of USA striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension, alongside ongoing updates regarding Manchester City's financial fair play case.
Source: BBC Sport
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