Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has joined growing opposition to FIFA’s controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup, insisting football must remain in the hands of the people rather than private investors.
The former Spain international, who won the 2010 FIFA World Cup, threw his support behind UEFA’s strong resistance to the proposal, warning that the sport’s authenticity and emotional appeal must not be sacrificed for commercial gain.
Speaking in Sydney on Friday, where Chelsea are on a pre-season tour, Alonso said football’s greatest strength lies in its accessibility and shared ownership by supporters around the world.
“I think football has to be for the people, not in private hands,” Alonso said.
“That’s the way we love it. We have seen a great World Cup, and some things should stay the same way. So it’s good to defend the interests of other people.”
Alonso’s comments come amid mounting resistance to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to establish a commercial subsidiary that would manage the governing body’s flagship tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, while allowing private investors to acquire minority stakes in the new entity.
The proposal has already triggered fierce opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), all of which have criticised both the substance of the plan and the consultation process leading up to its unveiling.
UEFA has gone a step further by warning it could boycott future FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeds, arguing that football’s biggest tournament should never become a commercial asset driven by investor returns.
Alonso echoed those concerns, expressing hope that football’s governing bodies would preserve the game’s traditions rather than fundamentally altering its ownership structure.
“Hopefully it won’t happen,” he said.
“I think it’s the common feeling of football people that we want something that we keep in the hands of everyone, that it’s for all the people.”
The Spaniard argued that football’s global popularity is rooted in its authenticity and the emotional connection supporters have with competitions such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Premier League.
“Hopefully we’ll keep the game as attractive and as authentic as we like it, and that’s why it creates these emotions and these passions we’ve seen in the World Cup, in the Champions League and in the Premier League, because it’s for everyone,” he added.
FIFA has defended the proposal, arguing that creating the commercial subsidiary could generate up to $4.2 billion in fresh investment that would be reinvested into football development across its 211 member associations. The world governing body has also insisted that no sporting or governance powers would be transferred to private investors.
For the proposal to proceed, it must receive approval from FIFA’s 38-member Council and secure the backing of a majority of the organisation’s 211 member associations.
Away from the governance debate, Chelsea continue preparations for the new Premier League season under Alonso. The Blues opened their pre-season tour with a thrilling 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers and are scheduled to face Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday.
(The Sun)
