Battle lines are being drawn in international soccer this week, with many fans, executives and governing bodies up in arms about FIFA‘s plan to sell a chunk of its commercial rights for upfront cash.
Friday’s Club Sportico essay breaks down the plan, the backlash and the underlying issues at play. That includes analysis on why FIFA’s unique structure often strips power from its most prominent members, making money a valuable tool in consolidating authority.
FIFA is a collection of 211 national governing bodies, each with an equal vote, which means powerhouse teams like Spain and Argentina have the same vote as Vanuatu or San Marino. For years FIFA leadership has used that structure as a way to consolidate power, utilizing financial aid and development grants aimed at small nations to push through initiatives and cover up inappropriate business dealings.
Critics of this investment proposal see a similar pattern unfolding this week. Right now, FIFA members are each set to receive about $8 million in distributions in the next four-year cycle. Should they approve Infantino’s plan, that will jump to $20 million, with an opportunity for another $20 million for special projects.
For the richest FIFA members, that difference might not move the needle. U.S. Soccer, for example, reported revenue of more than $455 million in just the last two years. But for all those smaller nations, the ones that hold the same vote as the U.S.—and would receive the same payout, regardless of World Cup participation—that money is a panacea.
