The vice-president of the German FA on Wednesday slammed FIFA’s controversial plans to sell stakes in its competitions, including the World Cup, as “an outright attack on football”.
FIFA announced Tuesday it was set to create a semi-private subsidiary which would sell part of its business operations in the World Cup and other competitions, hoping to raise $4.2 billion.
The plan would still have to be approved by the 38-member FIFA council and the majority of its 211 member associations. FIFA said it intends to present the plans to the council soon.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, the DFB vice-president who is also president of Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund and a vice-president of UEFA’s executive committee, joined the chorus critical of the proposal.
“Many in European football see FIFA’s plans as an outright attack on football. I share this view. A line has been crossed here,” Watzke told Germany’s Kicker.
