Fifa miscalculated Uefa leverage, now football’s ‘American century’ under threat
Proposed sale of private equity stake has caused split in the game, and highlighted the risks associated with involving US money men
Fifa’s proposed sale of a private stake in its tournament business, including the World Cup, reflects the expanding reach of US-style sports finance, including private equity, into global football, Roger Bennett, the CEO and founder of the Men in Blazers Media Network, said.
The plan has triggered a major confrontation with European football less than two weeks after a World Cup held primarily in the US.
Uefa’s 55 member associations voted unanimously on Thursday to boycott Fifa tournaments if the proposal proceeds, saying the World Cup “cannot be treated as an investment product.”
Bennett said the dispute offered a stark early test of the game’s emerging “American century,” as US capital plays an increasingly influential role across the sport.