UK Prime Minister condemns FIFA plan to sell World Cup

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has condemned FIFA's plan to sell a minority stake in the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors, calling the governing body "sell outs" and warning the move threatens the soul of the sport. The proposal, which has triggered a major backlash from European football authorities and fan groups, involves creating a new commercial entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and selling a stake estimated between 20 and 30 percent to raise billions in private capital.

The plan, developed with investment bank JPMorgan, would see lead investor Joshua Kushner's firm, Thrive Capital, take a significant role. FIFA has stated it would retain majority ownership, while its 211 national member associations would collectively receive a 20 percent equity stake. The governing body frames the restructuring as a way to dramatically expand its financial support for global football, pledging to increase funding to more than $10 billion for distribution to all member nations.

However, the commercial strategy has been met with fierce opposition. UEFA issued a forceful statement declaring that FIFA had "crossed a line that football's governing institutions should...