Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick has thrown his weight behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a 20 per cent commercial stake in the FIFA World Cup, arguing that the move could provide greater financial benefits to national football associations.
The proposal, announced by FIFA on Tuesday, has generated widespread criticism, particularly from UEFA and several European football associations, which have threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if the plan goes ahead.
However, speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, Pinnick said the proposed partial commercialisation of the World Cup should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen football development rather than undermine the sport.
According to him, the initiative could provide substantial additional funding to FIFA’s member associations, with each association potentially receiving as much as $20 million.
Pinnick called on critics to shift their attention from rejecting the proposal to demanding clear financial accountability, transparency and effective mechanisms for managing and distributing the proceeds.
He maintained that with proper oversight, the initiative could create significant financial opportunities for football associations around the world.
