Breaking down FIFA's stake sale and whether it's necessary

The news on Tuesday, first reported by the Financial Times, that FIFA is preparing to sell off part of its commercial operations spread shock and outrage across the sporting world.

Football's world governing body plans to sell a 21 per cent slice in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new subsidiary under which commercial operations and events - such as the World Cup, which, as detailed recently by The Athletic, is the key driver in FIFA's finances - will be consolidated. The intention is to raise $4.2billion (£3.2bn) from outside investors and the narrative quickly formed: FIFA wants to sell (part of) the World Cup.