Burnham slams FIFA plan to sell World Cup commercial rights
UK politician Andy Burnham has condemned FIFA's proposal to sell World Cup commercial rights, calling it a sell-out. European football associations are outraged over the plan and FIFA President Gianni Infantino's closeness to the Trump administration.
Andy Burnham, UK Member of Parliament and Mayor of Greater Manchester, has strongly criticized FIFA's plan to sell World Cup commercial rights. Burnham stated that the World Cup is not a product, but the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone's to sell. He added that once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.
FIFA claims the move will spur more investment in grassroots and women's football. However, European football associations, already smarting from FIFA's handling of the 2026 men's World Cup, are outraged at the proposals and at the leadership of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whom they see as too close to U.S. President Donald Trump.
The plan also involves Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm whose CEO Josh Kushner is the brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, as reported by POLITICO's West Wing Playbook. Burnham emphasized that the deal can be dressed up however one likes, but once a piece of it is sold, it's a sell-out.
