DFB Secretary General Holger Blask has escalated his criticism of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Speaking to the business magazine Capital, Blask revealed that the DFB only learned about Infantino’s plans to sell stakes in the World Cup through media reports, stating that “it caught us completely off guard.” He further criticized the situation, noting that “it is unacceptable for the FIFA leadership to act regarding its most valuable asset outside of its own governing bodies.” Blask also described the entire investment process as “completely opaque,” adding that the content of the deal and how the rights were valued remained unclear. “It all seems completely absurd,” he concluded.
The DFB Secretary General has given a general rejection of investment models proposed by Infantino. He stated that participation in competitions or DFB-owned companies is “not conceivable.” However, he suggested that investors might be considered for specific projects if the football association lacked the necessary know-how or capital, citing a potential joint venture with a technology conglomerate for a digitalization project as an example.
When asked about the association’s position regarding the upcoming FIFA presidential election in the spring, the Secretary General said, “Personally, I cannot see a way for Infantino to restore the confidence of the DFB.” He clarified, however, that the final decision would rest with the DFB presidium.
