The European Union's sports commissioner has criticized world football's governing body FIFA over its controversial and now-aborted plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Speaking to DW at his Brussels office, Commissioner Glenn Micallef labeled the plans "another episode in a series of poor governance decisions that excessively commercialize the sport," adding: "It's damaging to football."
However, Micallef stopped short of calling on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, amid growing pressure on him to step down. Asked whether FIFA was fit for purpose under Infantino, the commissioner insisted it wasn't for him to decide.
"That's a decision that belongs to national associations and federations," Micallef said. "I hope that they will have the chance to have an open process where they can discuss these things, where they can ensure accountability and responsibility for these issues."
Infantino faces ethics complaint
Micallef's comments come as the human rights group FairSquare submitted an updated complaint against Infantino to FIFA's ethics committee, joined by more than 100,000 signatures as part of its "Reboot FIFA" campaign.
The complaint details eight instances, four of them new, in which Infantino allegedly broke FIFA's ethics rules. These include the World Cup privatization plans and the reversal of US player Folarin Balogun's red card ban. All of the instances are linked to Infantino's relationship with US President Donald Trump.
In the complaint seen by DW, Fairsquare state: "at a minimum, [Infantino] abused his power, violated his duty of political neutrality and his duty of loyalty in his efforts to ingratiate himself with the US president. The evidence that he sought to gain personally from this pattern of behaviour adds to the seriousness of the allegations."
Nicholas McGeehan, director of FairSquare, told DW that European football's governing body UEFA — among Infantino's fiercest critics — should get behind the complaint.
"I think [the ethics committee] is a paper tiger, but it is a mechanism that could be usefully deployed," McGeehan said. "You have a mechanism within this organization that could be used to get this guy out. So why aren't you supporting these complaints?"
World Cup for sale
FIFA's plans to sell 20% of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors caused widespread outrage when they became public in July.
"Football is not for sale," Micallef told DW. "Yes, football needs investment, but that investment does not mean that football has to sell itself. The FIFA leadership is there … to make sure that football grows and reaches more people, but not to profit from it. Football belongs to us, the fans."
Despite the controversy, Infantino has confirmed he will stand for a fourth term as FIFA president next March. The governing body, which didn't respond to DW's request for comment, has closed ranks around its leader, saying previously that there was a "concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president."
With no sign of Infantino budging, McGeehan called on the EU to intervene, questioning the ability of sports organizations to regulate themselves.
"I think there are a lot of football supporters who are dreadfully concerned about the way the game is run, but think that there is no way to fix it," McGeehan said. "And of course, there's always a way to fix it, and the way to fix it is politics."
Is FIFA breaking EU competition law?
FIFA's role as both competition organizer and football's global regulator has long raised concerns about a conflict of interest.
It is already the subject of a complaint to the European Commission's competition watchdog over its control over the international match calendar. The complaint, filed by the umbrella group representing Europe's domestic football leagues, alleges FIFA abuses its role to favor its own competitions. On Tuesday, the complaint was widened to include the women's game.
Micallef, meanwhile, did not rule out further action.
"The fact that sport is autonomous does not absolve it of its responsibilities under the law," he said. "So I don't exclude competition policy. Competition policy is a tool in our war chest, but I would much rather prefer to address these issues through dialogue than through competition lawyers."
Pointing to the EU's role last year in opposing Spanish and Italian league matches being played outside Europe — proposals heavily criticized by fan groups — Micallef expressed hope for change.
"The football community should never be underestimated. When those who are passionate about football and institutions come together and send a strong message, then we are a power to be reckoned with," said Micallef. "We deserve proper governance. That's not too much to ask."
