48-team World Cup is a money grab and power grab

January 10, 2017 

​​#NewFIFANow does not support the expansion of the football World Cup to 48 teams, on three grounds.

It will dilute the competitiveness of the tournament and, therefore, the enjoyment of fans. 

It will not help development of the game or provide improved competitive opportunities for lower-ranked nations. Instead, it will make a mockery of the qualification process for most confederations.

It is a money grab and power grab. The aim is to increase revenue in order to fund the extravagant election promises of the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, as well as to consolidate Infantino’s personal position. This is straight out of the Joao Havelange and Sepp Blatter playbooks. 

FIFA should be focussed on restoring its reputation and credibility, and strengthening its marquee event, not creating a potentially larger environment for corruption, largesse and backhanders. 

This decision by the FIFA Council today again demonstrates that the wheels are apparently still being greased in the same old way and that FIFA is incapable of reforming itself. 

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