Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has defended FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a 20 percent commercial stake in the World Cup, stating that the plan will benefit member associations.

Recall that FIFA’s announcement of its plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and other events to private investors on Tuesday sparked criticisms and backlash, particularly from the European football governing body, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), and others.

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However, in an interview with Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show,’ Pinnick stated that the partial privatization aims to empower national associations with more funding rather than hurt the sport.

He noted that member bodies could receive up to $20 million in direct support if the enterprise moves forward.

Pinnick urged critics to focus on financial transparency and the institutional control mechanisms governing the funds rather than attacking the proposal outright.

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“First, I will say that I am not totally equipped to speak on this issue. I have not seen any mail to that effect,” Pinnick said.

“One thing I know is that Gianni does not just wake up and give a proposal. He consults extensively. Gianni is driven and very audacious. A lot of people in the football family do not like it.

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“When he was campaigning to be president of FIFA, he came to me in Rwanda. He requested to see me personally. I told him, ‘What do you want to see?’ And he said, ‘Please, Pinnick, give me just three minutes of your time.’

“I sat with him, and he told me, ‘Now you receive $200,000. Once I get elected, you will now start receiving $1.25 million.’ I said, ‘That is a big lie. Where do you want to get the money from?’

“He said, ‘We did it in UEFA. We turned UEFA around, and we can also do it in FIFA. I have seen my books and consulted.’

“When he got elected, he immediately started paying $1.25 million. For a cycle, each FA was getting about $6 million.”

“Gianni is making a proposal. As president of FIFA or as a head of an organisation, you can bring out a proposal. It behoves you to accept it or not. Don’t call everything a controversy. He has a right to bring out a proposal.

“João Havelange brought out a proposal years ago; it passed. It was the International Sports and Leisure (ISL), which was inherited by Sepp Blatter, who was the general secretary and later the president. Today, the rest is history.

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“The world is evolving. As the world is evolving, you look at things. Gianni has said, ‘This is my proposal.’ Who would be the main beneficiary? The shareholders are the member football associations—Nigeria FA, Niger FA, Ghana FA and South African FA. These are the main beneficiaries. 

“He said clearly, once this is done, the MAs will receive $20 million. They have also got the FIFA Forward Programme. You can also access another $20 million. So if, for example, you have $40 million, trust me, you don’t need a government to run football.

“What people should be bothered about is the integrity of the funds, the integrity of the personnel, the people, the consortium, or, if you like, the company.

“Are these companies quoted on stock exchanges all over the world? These are things people should be bothered about. And the use of the funds. I know FIFA also has its control mechanisms. So to me, we shouldn’t just sit down. We should celebrate the huge success.”