00:00FIFA has announced plans to create a new commercial entity, the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would allow private investors to
00:10buy a minority stake in the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments.
00:19Now, the proposal values the new business at around $20 billion and is intended to generate billions of dollars that
00:28FIFA says will be distributed to its 211 members association to support football development worldwide.
00:37FIFA President Gianni Infantino has argued that the governing body would retain full control over football governance while investors would
00:48only own a non-controlling commercial stake.
00:53However, the proposal has been met with widespread criticism.
00:57UEFA described the move as selling the soul of football and questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the potential deal.
01:07Critics fear that private sectors could invest and place greater emphasis on profit and potentially influencing decisions around major tournaments
01:18rather than focusing on the football itself.
01:21Now, the proposal must still be approved by a majority of FIFA's members.
01:29Prime Minister Andy Burnham was among those to condemn the plan in a tweet stating the World Cup is not
01:37a product and it's for the people that attend matches.
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