Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has voiced his opposition to Fifa’s proposal to sell a stake in the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup, insisting the sport should remain accessible to the public rather than controlled by private investors.
Speaking during Chelsea’s pre-season tour in Sydney, the former Spain international said football belongs to the people and should not be placed in private hands.
“I think that football has to be for the people, not in private hands,” Alonso said.
He also backed Uefa’s strong opposition to the proposal, which would see Fifa establish a commercial subsidiary to manage its major tournaments while allowing private investors to purchase stakes in the business.
European football’s governing body has warned it could boycott future World Cups if the proposal moves forward, arguing that football should not be driven primarily by financial returns.
Fifa, however, has defended the plan, saying it will carry out an open and democratic consultation with stakeholders and that the initiative could generate up to US$4.2 billion (RM17.16 billion) in additional revenue.
Alonso, who helped Spain win the 2010 FIFA World Cup, said he hoped the proposal would not be approved.
“I think that it’s the common feeling of football people that we want something that we keep in the hands of everyone, that it’s for all the people. So hopefully it won’t happen,” he said.
He added that preserving the authenticity of football is essential to maintaining the passion and emotions that make competitions such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Premier League so popular worldwide.
Fifa’s proposal will require approval from the 38-member Fifa Council as well as a majority of its 211 member associations before it can be implemented.
Meanwhile, Chelsea began life under Alonso with a 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers in a pre-season friendly and will next face Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday.
Source: AFP
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Kritik.com.my. As an open platform, we welcome diverse perspectives, but the accuracy and integrity of contributed content remain the responsibility of the individual writer. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented.