FIFA Right To Sell 20% World Cup Stake, Says Pinnick

Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick, on Thursday, defended the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup and other competitions, saying the initiative should be judged on its merits.

Pinnick, who is the deputy chairperson of the FIFA Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, said Infantino had a track record of introducing reforms that had benefited member associations.

FIFA had announced plans on Tuesday to sell stakes in the World Cup and other events to private investors, which provoked a furious response from the European football governing body, Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, among others.

Speaking on The Morning Show, an Arise TV programme, Pinnick said the proposed sale would generate more revenue for member associations rather than undermine the game.

His words: “First, I will say that I am not totally equipped to speak on this issue. I have not seen any mail to that effect.

“One thing I know is that Gianni does not just wake up and give a proposal.

“He consults extensively. Gianni is driven and very audacious. A lot of people in the football family do not like it.

“When he was campaigning to be president of FIFA, he came to me in Rwanda.

“He requested to see me personally. I told him, ‘What do you want to see?’ And he said, ‘Please, Pinnick, give me just three minutes of your time.’ I sat with him, and he told me, ‘Now you receive $200,000.

“‘Once I get elected, you will now start receiving $1.25 million.’ I said, ‘That is a big lie. ‘ Where do you want to get the money from? He said, ‘We did it in UEFA. We turned UEFA around, and we can also do it in FIFA. I have seen my books and consulted.’

“When he got elected, he immediately started paying $1.25 million. For a circle, each FA was getting about $6 million.

“Gianni is making a proposal. As president of FIFA or as a head of an organisation, you can bring out a proposal. It behoves you to accept it or not. Don’t call everything a controversy.

“He has a right to bring out a proposal. João Havelange brought out a proposal years ago; it passed. It was the International Sports and Legion, ISL, which was inherited by Sepp Blatter, who was the general secretary and later the president.

“Today, the rest is history. The world is evolving. As the world is evolving, you look at things. Gianni has said, ‘This is my proposal.’ Who would be the main beneficiary? Who are the shareholders?

“The shareholders are the member football associations. Nigeria FA, Niger FA, Ghana FA, and South African FA. These are the main beneficiaries.

“He said clearly, Once this is done, the MAs will receive $20 million. They have also got the FIFA Fast Forward Programme. You can also access another $20 million.

“So if, for example, you have $40 million, trust me, you don’t need a government to run football. What people should be bothered about is the integrity of the funds, the integrity of the personnel, the people, the consortium, or, if you like, the company.

“Are these companies quoted in stock exchanges all over the world? These are things more people should be bothered about. And the use of the funds.

“I know FIFA also has their control mechanisms. So to me, we shouldn’t just sit down. We should celebrate the huge success.”

On concerns that private investors could influence FIFA decisions to protect their commercial interests, with reference to the controversy surrounding United States President Donald Trump’s reported intervention over Balogun’s red card at the FIFA World Cup, Pinnick said, “Like I said, football is evolving. When VAR was introduced, there was a lot of criticism; they called it controversial. Now, VAR has come to stay. It is a scientific way of determining infringement on VARs.

“Now, they have introduced what’s called the water break. As the president of Nigeria, for example, the president can pick up his call and call the president and say, Listen, I don’t like what they did to him.

“You know, if the president calls Gianni, will Gianni not pick up his call? Definitely, he’ll pick up his call and say, Listen, yes, there’s a commission.

“The commission for this committee is going to look into it. Well, because the president of America is called Gianni, it becomes a story.

“And you know, Trump is in a world of his own, you know, so I am not going to talk about that, but I know what he did, he did according to the books and the statutes.”