Gary Lineker responds to BBC post with fury as FIFA face World Cup boycott | Football | Sport
Gary Lineker is the latest high-profile name to condemn Gianni Infantino and his plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. Plans are for investments of the FIFA forward Enterprise (FFE), which will run both the men’s and women’s World Cup as well as the Club World Cup, to be sold to third parties.
The idea has been slammed by several organisations already, with Lineker joining UEFA and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to speak out against the plans. FIFA have already consulted advisors, including bank J.P Morgan and OpenEconomics, as well as consulting long-term investors.
US President Donald Trump is also said to have been consulted. The 80-year-old presented the World Cup trophy to Spain alongside Infantino in the World Cup final earlier this month.
In a strong statement on the situation, UEFA said, “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously.
“So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”
Former England captain and Match of the Day presenter Lineker has taken to social media to voice his views. Sharing a BBC report of UEFA’s statement on his Instagram story, he included a caption stating: “Nothing surprises me anymore” alongside a sick face emoji.
Andy Burnham also lambasted the proposals, also taking to social media to share his views, writing: “Let me say this very directly. Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.
“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell
“Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”
The latest row is one of several surrounding Infantino, both during and following this summer’s World Cup. Lineker branded the FIFA president’s role as ‘almost untenable’ in the wake of the controversy over Folarin Balogun’s red card.
The USA striker had his suspension for the dismissal he received in the World Cup overturned by FIFA, allowing him to take part in the knockout match against Belgium. The ruling followed a telephone conversation with Trump.
Speaking on the Rest is Football, Alan Shearer said: “FIFA have brought all this on themselves. How on earth does (Jarrell) Quansah now get two games, Balogun got one suspended and got it taken away, yet Quansah now has to miss if England get through the two games.
“It’s absolutely scandalous. Such a bad look.” Lineker then added: “I think his position at FIFA now is almost untenable.”
