Fifa accused of ‘selling the soul of football’ over $20bn World Cup commercial rights sale plan

• World governing body set to raise millions from venture

• Uefa hits out at proposal and could take legal action

Fifa has announced plans to sell the commercial rights to its tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors in a controversial move that triggered an immediate backlash from Uefa and leading European clubs.

Uefa released a strongly-worded statement accusing Fifa of “attempting to sell the soul of football” and is believed to be considering its legal position, while sources at numerous elite clubs were highly critical of the proposal in private.