FIFA World Cup stake plan criticised by DFB official

DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke criticised FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in its competitions, including the World Cup, calling it “an outright attack on football”.

FIFA announced Tuesday that it was set to create a semi-private subsidiary to sell part of its business operations in the World Cup and other competitions, with the aim of raising $4.2 billion.

The proposal still needs approval from the 38-member FIFA council and a majority of FIFA's 211 member associations. FIFA said it intends to present the plans to the council soon.

Watzke, who is also president of Borussia Dortmund and a vice-president of UEFA's executive committee, told Germany's Kicker that many in European football saw the plan as crossing a line. He said European federations could carry significant weight if they opposed the proposal together.

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl also criticised the proposal, saying he was ashamed football was discussing such ideas. UEFA described the plan as a proposed sale of the game's “soul”, while CONCACAF said it was deeply concerned by what it called a lack of due process.

Earlier in July, the DFB confirmed to AFP subsidiary SID that it had refused to sign a letter supporting FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election, despite the Swiss official reportedly receiving support from more than 200 member associations.