Infantino Drives $15 Billion World Cup Commercialization as FIFA Weighs $30 Million Commissioner Role
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 6
Infantino Drives $15 Billion World Cup Commercialization as FIFA Weighs $30 Million Commissioner Role
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 6
Summary
$15 billion in World Cup revenue has intensified scrutiny of Gianni Infantino’s push to commercialize football further while he remains in charge of FIFA.
A FIFA Forward Enterprise plan cited by BBC Radio 5 Live reporting would create a commissioner post paying $30 million a year, a role seen as potentially available to Infantino after a fourth term.
Commercialization has reached fans directly through pricing, with World Cup final tickets at about $1,000, hospitality packages near $1 million and some offers approaching $40,000.
Critics say the drive for revenue is also spilling onto the pitch, pointing to claims that suspensions for Folarin Balogun and Cristiano Ronaldo were lifted before the tournament and to ideas such as four quarters to accommodate TV ads.