European Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef has pledged that the European Commission will examine FIFA's contentious proposal to sell minority stakes in a newly created commercial entity to private investors.

On Monday, football's global governing body unveiled plans to generate $4 billion by offloading minority holdings in a new vehicle, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would assume control of all commercial rights tied to the World Cup and the Club World Cup — a tournament FIFA is already expanding into a 32-team, month-long competition set to debut in the United States in 2025.

The announcement triggered immediate condemnation, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European football's governing body UEFA among the prominent critics. The backlash has drawn comparisons to the widespread revolt that derailed the European Super League project five years ago, when fan protests, political intervention, and regulatory pressure forced 12 of Europe's biggest clubs to abandon a planned breakaway competition within 48 hours of its launch.

Micallef took to social media to voice his objections: "This isn't baseball. The FIFA World Cup remains the greatest sporting tournament on the planet, despite FIFA exploiting every commercial opportunity. But enough is enough."

"The relentless commercialisation of football has become corrosive. It's threatening the things that made football the world's most popular sport. This means we all have a responsibility. Players, fans, clubs, leagues, national associations, confederations and the media all have a voice, and all should use it," he continued.

"Particular concern arises when FIFA's regulatory powers become aligned with the financial interests of private entities. When the value of investments depends on decisions made by FIFA. That raises profound questions about governance, independence and conflicts of interest."

The concern strikes at a structural tension unique to global football governance: FIFA simultaneously writes the sport's regulations and controls its most valuable commercial rights, a dual role that private investment could further complicate if investor returns become linked to FIFA's rule-making decisions.

"These are also proposals that raise important competition law considerations. As the CJEU [European Court of Justice] consistently recognised, sporting rules are subject to EU law where they produce economic effects. Within the scope of its competences under the Treaties, the European Commission will study these proposals carefully."

The CJEU's jurisprudence on sport and EU law includes landmark rulings establishing that governing bodies' decisions with economic effects cannot shield themselves from competition law scrutiny — most recently reinforced in cases involving European football's transfer system and broadcasting arrangements.

"I also support UEFA and calls from stakeholders for more scrutiny. Every FA must engage meaningfully including with leagues, clubs, players and supporters before taking a position. Commercial success should strengthen football, not consume it. Hands off our game."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has framed the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan as a vehicle to redistribute resources across global football by boosting financial distributions to all 211 member associations. FIFA's revenue is overwhelmingly generated through World Cup broadcast and sponsorship rights in four-year cycles, and the governing body has steadily increased tournament frequency and format — expanding the men's World Cup to 48 teams starting in 2026 and launching the expanded Club World Cup.

However, critics warn that institutional investors could push to further expand the scale and frequency of World Cup tournaments and maintain elevated ticket prices in pursuit of higher returns.

Geoff Cunningham, a partner at law firm Clarion, offered a legal perspective: "If the proposed structure results in commercial activity within the EU, European regulators may have the opportunity to scrutinise aspects of how they operate."

"The key question is less whether the EU can block the proposal straight away, and more whether elements of its implementation fall within existing European law," Cunningham explained.

"Competition law is likely to be one area of interest. If the new commercial vehicle were found to distort competition or abuse market power in European markets, regulators would have grounds to investigate. Depending on the structure of any transaction, merger control or other competition law considerations could also become relevant."

English FA Says It Was Kept in the Dark

England's Football Association disclosed that it had not been consulted on FIFA's plans, stating: "We have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached. Based on the limited information we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved. When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear, and comment further."

Those sentiments were mirrored by Concacaf, the confederation representing football associations across North and Central America and the Caribbean.

"Concacaf was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release. We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process," the organisation said.

"We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place."

"As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, FIFA, the confederations and every member association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport."

"Every decision we make must be guided by good governance, robust processes and long-term stewardship. This is the framework within which Concacaf operates. We trust that all within the FIFA family will act in the same manner."

Burnham and UEFA Respond

Prime Minister Andy Burnham swiftly condemned FIFA's proposal on Monday evening, declaring: "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."

UEFA, which has frequently clashed with Infantino's FIFA, is reported to be weighing the possibility of withdrawing its member nations from future World Cup tournaments in protest.

In a statement issued on Monday, 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."