Football Australia pleads for more time to digest Fifa’s controversial World Cup plans

Football Australia has resisted immediate criticism of Fifa’s plan to seek private investment despite an international outcry, instead calling for more information about the controversial proposal.

Football’s world governing body announced plans this week to sell a stake in the commercial rights to its tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors, in a move led by the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino.

The news triggered immediate criticism from continental federations, clubs and politicians.

Football Australia confirmed on Thursday it had received Fifa’s proposal but called for more time before it decided whether to support the move.

“As this is the first time we have been made aware of the initiative, we are now working to understand the proposal in full,” a spokesperson said.

“We have requested further information from Fifa to properly assess the strategic, commercial, and governance implications of such a significant step.

“We will only be able to form a position after receiving this information and engaging in further dialogue with our peer member associations and our confederation.”

The matter has already been taken up by many in Australia. The NSW Liberal senator Dave Sharma described the proposal as “grotesque”.

“The World Cup should not be privatised,” he said.

“It is clear from the reaction of Football Australia and other regional confederations and associations that they have been blindsided by this proposal.

“The fact that a change of this significance was announced without any meaningful prior engagement or consultation only adds to the suspicion surrounding it.”

The former Socceroo Craig Foster described the proposal as football “being sold”.

“It will fall on the players, current and former, and fans around the world to protect their World Cup. For future generations,” he said.

A Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) spokesperson said they were “deeply concerned” by Fifa’s proposal and said these international football tournaments should not be for sale.

“The PFA is disturbed by the lack of transparency surrounding the proposal and the absence of meaningful consultation with those that generate the value that Fifa is seeking to exploit – the players and the fans,” they said.

“We are equally concerned about the pressure being placed on member associations, including Football Australia, to expeditiously consider this proposal when it will have profound and irreversible consequences for the ownership and governance of football’s premier competitions.”

FA’s statement is broadly consistent with a release from the Asian Football Confederation on Wednesday, which did not rule out support for the proposal.

But the continental body went further in criticising Fifa’s approach, saying it was “disappointing” such an important matter entered the public domain before it could be discussed.

“While the AFC recognises the importance of exploring innovative approaches that can strengthen the future of global football, initiatives of this scale and consequence must be founded upon the principles of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation,” its statement read.

Fifa has promised external investment would deliver millions of dollars in extra funding to each national federation.

Despite the recent success of the Matildas and the Socceroos, FA recorded a $15.3m deficit last year.

Fifa has said a majority of its 211 members must express an interest in taking the extra funding if the external investment is to be allowed.

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