The relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the German Football Association (DFB) has suffered significant damage. According to Andreas Rettig, the DFB’s CEO, the damage is described as an “irreparable loss of confidence,” stemming from Infantino’s effort to sell shares of World Cup revenue to private investors.
The situation was exacerbated by the fact that UEFA took an unusually firm stance in a public statement, opposing the plans put forth by the FIFA chief. For Rettig, this conflict was inevitable, noting that “the conflict between UEFA and FIFA has been simmering for years.”
Rejecting critics who claim the DFB has allowed Infantino to operate without sufficient restraint in recent years, Rettig stressed the need to distinguish between public perception and internal discussions. He stated that various controversial topics have indeed been debated within the governing bodies.
While Rettig is not generally against investors in football, he cautions that one must always question an investor’s underlying motivation. He argues that the primary aim is not necessarily profit maximization, drawing on his previous experience as a manager in the Bundesliga for Freiburg, Köln, and Augsburg. In his view, the return on investment in football is “emotional,” rather than strictly being “economic-financial.”
