FIFA. The price is now known.
FIFA tried selling a piece of the World Cup and the plan fell apart in four days, because the World Cup was never FIFA's to sell. But the number is now known.
THE GIST ON FIFA: "The price is now known"
What did FIFA try to do?
FIFA runs the World Cup. It's a non-profit owned by 211 member nations. On Tuesday Gianni Infantino, who just happens to have a Bond villain's name, announced plans to sell a chunk of FIFA's commercial arm to private investors for around $4 billion.
By Thursday UEFA had voted to boycott every FIFA competition until the plan was dropped. By Friday it worked.
What was really being sold?
Private investors would have paid for a permanent seat at the table where every future World Cup gets shaped. Every scheduled host country and commercial decision would have been negotiable. That was up for grabs: influence for decades to come.
Where have we seen this before?
F1 is owned by Liberty Media. Golf was split over Saudi money. Then they start to look the same, and the game starts serving the money.
The World Cup was the last major sporting event that hadn't fallen to this.
Why does it matter that it failed?
The moment something has a public price, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. FIFA got stopped this week, but the number is now known. Buyers know the appetite exists and sellers know what the answer looks like.
They'll structure it better next time, and next time no one will be surprised enough to stop it. But will you?
Should private money own a slice of the World Cup?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
What did FIFA try to sell?
A chunk of its commercial arm to private investors for around $4 billion, announced by Gianni Infantino.
Why did it collapse?
UEFA voted to boycott every FIFA competition, and the plan was dropped by Friday.
Who owns FIFA?
It's a non-profit owned by 211 member nations, according to Huw.
See you on the next one.
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