German football officials today joined strong criticism of FIFA’s plans to sell stakes in its events, beginning with the World Cup, to private investors. “Many in European football regard FIFA’s plans as a direct attack on the game. I share that view,” said Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice-president of the German Football Association and vice-chair of UEFA’s executive committee, to the sports magazine Kicker.

“A line has been crossed. There is broad agreement on this among the member associations, as several recent discussions I have had with (UEFA president) Aleksander Ceferin and other colleagues have shown me. At the World Cup, six European teams reached the quarter-finals and three reached the semi-finals.”

If European football were to unite in opposition to these plans, it would carry significant weight. FIFA yesterday announced its intention to launch a subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to combine the sale of commercial rights with the operational management of its tournaments, starting with the World Cup, which generates most of FIFA’s revenue.

FIFA said FFE would be open to private investors acquiring minority stakes and valued the company at $20 billion. Reports say FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to the 211 member associations offering them $40 million each, with an initial payment of $20 million, if they approve the FFE plan by September 19. Those who do not join would receive $2.7 million under the current global distribution scheme.

Max Eberl, a member of Bayern Munich’s board, called FIFA’s plans “shameful” and said: “I am ashamed that such ideas are being discussed in the world of football.” During the presentation of new signing Nathaniel Brown, Eberl added, “As fans have already said: football does not belong to us. It’s just a game.”

“To me, FIFA exists to support football, to set its structure and rules, and to organize the World Cup. Right now, I have the impression FIFA is there only to make profit. Even I, who feel truly at home in the world of football, find this repulsive,” he said.

Eberl welcomed UEFA’s strong condemnation and addressed rumours that UEFA might consider boycotting FIFA events. “I am not in favor of boycotts; I firmly believe in dialogue. But if it came to that, I would support Europe standing up and saying: ‘No, we will not accept this.’ This is not our sport,” he said.

VfB Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness called FIFA’s plans “catastrophic,” and Borussia Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer said: “I really can’t understand why FIFA would take this step.”

“I don’t understand the logic behind these plans,” Cramer said during Dortmund’s pre-season tour in Japan. “Not only my first impression but also the initial feedback has been far from positive. Why does FIFA feel the need to reinvent the wheel? In my view, this initiative is not a good idea.”