FIFA is being scrutinized for "potential conflicts of interest following the governing body's decision to award a TV deal to a company led by a relative" of President Sepp Blatter, according to David Bond of the BBC. FIFA appointed Infront Sports & Media "to handle the sale of World Cup TV rights in a number of Asian countries for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments," but FIFA "failed to disclose the president of Infront is Philippe Blatter, the Fifa president's nephew." Sylvia Schenk, the author of Transparency International's "damning report on Fifa, told the BBC that even if Sepp Blatter played no part in the decision to award the contract, it raised questions again about the governing body's lack of accountability." FIFA's media office "released a statement making it clear that Sepp Blatter played no part in the decision to award Infront the TV contract." The statement read, "Following a tender, the decision to go with Infront was made by the finance committee and ratified by the executive committee on the basis that Infront presented the best offer" (BBC.co.uk, 10/28).
CORPORATE MARKETING: The AP reports FIFA has "sold the rights to market corporate tickets at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups for $300 million to current partner MATCH Hospitality." FIFA said that it will "also share MATCH’s profits on the deal, which covers Confederations Cup and Women’s World Cup tournaments from 2017-23." MATCH paid $240M for "hospitality rights to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2014 event in Brazil." It "acknowledged heavy losses in South Africa, reported to be almost $50 million, but predicted returning to profit in Brazil" (AP, 11/1).
