The Asian Football Confederation has accused Fifa of undermining the foundations of football by failing to consult confederations over a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Uefa is set to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday.
Key facts
- The AFC accused Fifa of undermining the foundations of football, according to the Guardian.
- AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa sent a letter to the confederation's 47 members on Thursday.
- The letter condemns a deal with Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital to buy 20% of a new company controlling the commercial rights of all global tournaments.
- Uefa is due to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday.
- The Guardian reports the AFC may hold the balance of power in the dispute.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has publicly accused Fifa of undermining the foundations of football, escalating a dispute over how the sport’s global governing body plans to handle the commercial rights to its tournaments, according to the Guardian.
In a letter sent on Thursday by AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa to the confederation’s 47 members, which has been seen by the Guardian, the AFC condemned what it described as Fifa’s failure to consult the confederations over a plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
At the centre of the criticism is a deal with Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital to buy a 20% stake in a new company that would control the commercial rights of all global tournaments. The AFC letter characterised Fifa’s actions in striking the agreement as unilateral, according to the Guardian.
The Guardian reports that the AFC may hold the balance of power as the row develops, giving the Asian body significant influence over how the situation unfolds.
Uefa, European football’s governing body, is due to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday, according to the Guardian. The outcome of the coming talks is not yet known, and the source does not detail the positions of other confederations or Fifa’s response.
Why it matters
The World Cup is one of the most valuable properties in global sport, so how its commercial rights are owned and sold affects the finances and governance of football worldwide. A clash between Fifa and a major confederation such as the AFC, ahead of Uefa's emergency meeting, raises questions about who ultimately controls the game and whether private investors will gain influence over it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the AFC accusing Fifa of?
The AFC has accused Fifa of undermining the foundations of football by failing to consult the confederations over a plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors, according to the Guardian.
Who is involved in the World Cup rights deal?
According to the Guardian, the deal involves Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital buying a 20% stake in a new company that would control the commercial rights of all global tournaments.
What is Uefa doing in response?
Uefa is due to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday, according to the Guardian.