According to AFP, Football Australia said on Thursday that it has asked FIFA for more details on the proposed sale of a stake in the World Cup's commercial operations in order to better understand its impact.
FIFA announced on Tuesday a plan to create a semi-private subsidiary to sell a stake in its commercial operations in the World Cup and other events, hoping to raise $4.2 billion.
This sparked a strong wave of opposition, but the Football Federation Australia said they had received the letter but needed more information before responding.
The Football Federation Australia (FFA) stated: “The FFA can confirm that it has received a letter from FIFA regarding its latest commercial proposal. As this is our first time being informed of the initiative, we are currently working to fully understand it. We have requested further information from FIFA to properly assess the strategic, commercial and governance implications of this significant move. We will be able to formulate a clear position only after receiving this information and engaging in further dialogue with our fellow member associations and our parent federations.”
The plan requires approval from the 38-member FIFA Council and a majority of its 211 member associations. FIFA President Gianni Infantino called it "a fantastic opportunity to accelerate the development of football globally." However, critics, led by UEFA, argue that it "crosses a red line" and that "the soul and governance of football are not assets that can be traded."
