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UEFA Chief: FIFA's 'Emperor Is Naked' on Rights Deal
29 Sep
Summary
- UEFA President Ceferin likened FIFA's shelved plan to 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.
- The proposal aimed to sell a stake in FIFA's commercial rights to investors.
- Ceferin accused FIFA of using convenient words to hide uncomfortable realities.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin openly criticized FIFA's shelved commercial rights venture, likening the situation to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Emperor's New Clothes." He stated that the proposal, which aimed to let private investors buy up to 20% of a new FIFA subsidiary holding commercial rights, was based on misleading language.
Ceferin argued that terms like 'development' and 'democratization' were misused to mask the reality of selling off football's future and presenting national associations with a fait accompli. He questioned the integrity of processes described as 'consultation' when accompanied by secrecy.
He urged football executives to consider the implications of secret deals that undermine the control of their 'crown jewels.' Ceferin concluded by suggesting that it was time to demand accountability from decision-makers who bend rules and treat football's future as a mere bargaining chip.
