More Money for Football, But at What Cost?

Belize’s football programs could stand to receive a major boost under a new FIFA proposal, but the plan is stirring controversy before it even reaches a vote. FIFA wants support from its two hundred and eleven member associations for a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, that it says would generate more than four point two billion U.S. dollars this year by selling a twenty percent minority, non-controlling stake to private investors. If approved, national federations could receive significantly more funding, potentially up to twenty million Belize dollars in a four-year cycle, for fields, youth programs, coaching and women’s football. But the big question is what FIFA may be giving up in exchange. UEFA and other critics say bringing private investors into the sport’s commercial arm could put football’s independence at risk. Concacaf says it is deeply concerned about what it calls a lack of due process. We spoke with President of the Football Federation of Belize, Sergio Chuc to get FFB’s position on the proposal. And he says, Football is not for sale.

 

Sergio Chuc, President, Football Federation of Belize

“I got the proposal about FIFA doing a new arm to the organization, FIFA Enterprise late yesterday evening. I did not know where it came from initially. I thought it was fake but when I looked at the email address, I realized it was genuine. It came from the FIFA head office. Before that, I had not heard anything about FIFA enterprise yet. The Football Federation of Belize our executive committee has been texting back and forth trying to come up with a position on how we will go. But at this stage, we still don’t have a clear position if it something we will support or not support it. The proposal is huge. The increase would be from eight million that we are getting over a four year cycle, to twenty million U.S. dollars, which is forty million Belize, over the four-year cycle. We are looking at ten million dollars a year. It is definitely a carrot they have dangled in front of our eyes and all small member associations. Personally, there are other ways how FIFA can get funding to its members instead of bringing in an outside, mutual fund equity fund to manage our commercialization of the game. I don’t want anybody to go out with the idea after tonight that we are jumping on this bandwagon. First we have to study it good and then we will take a position on it. What I want to state categorically is that football will never be for sale once I am in charge here in Belize. My country will not mortgage the future of our children for a quick buck.”

 

FIFA currently operates as a non-profit association under Swiss law. Critics argue that the  move would create pressure to prioritize corporate profits over sportsmanship.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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