Posts
The Global Pattern
From NFL to FIFA: The Same Extraction Model
FIFA: Swiss Non-Profit, Global Crime — Post 7 (FINALE) | February 6, 2026
Post 1: The $11 Billion Question — FIFA keeps $10.6B, players get 3%
Post 2: The Stats Perform Mystery — Undisclosed payments, Vista Equity
Post 3: The Saudi Web — PIF, DAZN, circular money
Post 4: The New Corruption — Post-2015 reforms failed
Post 5: The Player Extraction — No CBA, 16x worse than NFL
Post 6: The Dealmaker — Romy Gai and AWE
Post 7: The Global Pattern ← YOU ARE HERE — NFL to FIFA
The Comparison: NFL vs FIFA
Let's put the two models side by side:
NFL MODEL:
• Revenue: $25B/year (2024)
• Player share: 48.8% ($12.2B) via CBA
• Owners keep: 51.2% ($12.8B)
• Extraction rate: 51.2%
FIFA MODEL:
• Revenue: $11B/cycle (2023-2026)
• Player share: 3.2% ($355M club fees)
• FIFA keeps: 96.8% ($10.6B)
• Extraction rate: 96.8%
RATIO:
FIFA extraction is 15.25x worse than NFL
WHY THE DIFFERENCE:
• NFL: Players have union, can strike, negotiate CBA
• FIFA: Players have no union power, can’t strike, no CBA
WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON:
Both extract from players. Both hide money through opacity. Both enrich executives
and investors while excluding value creators. The degree differs. The model is same.
The Data Monopoly Pattern
NFL Model (Genius Sports):
- NFL mandates RFID chips in player shoulder pads
- Generates Next Gen Stats (NGS) data from player movements
- Gives Genius Sports exclusive rights to distribute NGS to sportsbooks
- NFL owns 8-10% of Genius Sports (largest shareholder)
- NFL profits when betting volume increases
- Payment disclosed: $20M/year licensing + equity stake
FIFA Model (Stats Perform):
- FIFA generates match data from World Cup and competitions
- Gives Stats Perform exclusive rights to distribute to sportsbooks
- Stats Perform owned by Vista Equity Partners (private equity)
- No disclosed FIFA equity stake
- Payment to FIFA: undisclosed
The pattern:
- Both leagues generate data from player performances
- Both give exclusive distribution rights to private companies
- Both enable sportsbooks to create high-margin betting products
- Both exclude players from compensation
The difference:
- NFL at least disclosed its equity stake and payment (somewhat)
- FIFA hides everything
NFL → GENIUS SPORTS:
• Exclusive NGS data distribution rights
• NFL payment: $20M/year + 8-10% equity
• NFL profits from betting volume increase
• Disclosed: Yes (buried in SPAC filings, but findable)
• House edge impact: Doubled (5.4% → 9.3%)
• Player compensation: $0 from betting revenue
FIFA → STATS PERFORM:
• Exclusive World Cup betting data rights
• FIFA payment: UNDISCLOSED
• Stats Perform owned by Vista Equity (PE firm)
• Disclosed: No
• House edge impact: Unknown (betting data enables SGPs globally)
• Player compensation: $0 from betting revenue
SAME PATTERN:
1. League generates data from player performances
1. League gives exclusive rights to private company
1. Company sells to sportsbooks
1. Sportsbooks create high-margin bets
1. Players get $0
1. League/executives profit
KEY DIFFERENCE:
NFL disclosed (poorly, but disclosed). FIFA hides completely.
The Venture Fund Pattern
NFL Model (32 Equity):
- Launched 2013 as NFL's venture capital arm
- Invests in sports tech, media, data companies
- Portfolio includes companies NFL later does business with
- Kevin LaForce ran 32 Equity, negotiated Genius deal while 32 Equity owned Genius equity
- LaForce left NFL for RedBird Capital (June 2021), RedBird partnered with NFL on EverPass (May 2023)
FIFA Model (Emerging):
- No formal venture fund yet
- But FIFA altered statutes (2019) to allow equity investments
- FIFA announced (2025) embrace of VC investing in sports/entertainment tech
- FIFA aims to become "entertainment company" (per 2025 statements)
- Joint ventures: Football Technology Centre (Hawk-Eye), Football Development Ventures
The pattern:
- NFL built venture fund to invest in companies it does business with
- FIFA is building the same model (just starting)
- Both create conflicts: invest in company, then award company contracts
- Both profit from deals that benefit portfolio/partner companies
Prediction: FIFA will launch a formal venture fund (like 32 Equity) within 5 years. It will invest in sports data companies, media tech, betting infrastructure. Then FIFA will award those companies contracts. The conflicts will be structural, not individual.
NFL — 32 EQUITY:
• Launched 2013
• Invests in sports tech, media, data
• Owned Genius equity → NFL awarded Genius exclusive data deal
• Kevin LaForce ran fund → left for RedBird → RedBird partnered with NFL
• Conflicts: Invest in company, award company contracts, profit from both sides
FIFA — EMERGING MODEL:
• 2019: Altered statutes to allow equity investments
• 2025: Announced VC investing strategy
• Goal: Become “entertainment company”
• Joint ventures: Football Tech Centre (Hawk-Eye), Football Development Ventures
• No formal fund YET, but building same infrastructure
PREDICTION:
FIFA will launch formal venture fund within 5 years. It will invest in sports
data, media tech, betting infrastructure. Then FIFA will award contracts to
portfolio companies. Same model as 32 Equity, global scale.
THE PATTERN:
Both leagues use venture investing to profit from companies they regulate. Invest
→ award contracts → profit from both sides. Structural conflicts by design.
The Revolving Door Pattern
NFL Example (Kevin LaForce):
- Ran 32 Equity (NFL venture fund)
- Negotiated deals with portfolio companies (conflicts)
- April 2021: Negotiated Genius Sports deal
- June 2021: Left NFL for RedBird Capital (2 months later)
- May 2023: RedBird partnered with NFL on EverPass Media
FIFA Watch (Romy Gai):
- Ran AWE International (consulting firm with Saudi office)
- Client list not public (can't verify prior relationships)
- April 2022: Joined FIFA as Chief Business Officer
- January 2026: Negotiated Stats Perform deal (payment undisclosed)
- Still at FIFA as of February 2026
- If he leaves for Vista/Stats Perform/DAZN/PIF in next 12-24 months: pattern confirmed
The pattern:
- Executive comes from opaque background (venture fund, consulting firm)
- Negotiates deals with companies they may have relationships with
- Leaves for private sector (beneficiary or related firm)
- Creates incentive to structure deals that benefit future employers
The revolving door isn't corruption in the traditional sense (cash bribes). It's structural corruption: the system is designed to reward executives who give favorable deals to companies that might hire them later.
NFL — KEVIN LAFORCE:
• Ran 32 Equity (owned Genius equity)
• Negotiated Genius deal (April 2021)
• Left NFL for RedBird Capital (June 2021) — 2 months later
• RedBird partnered with NFL on EverPass (May 2023)
• Pattern: Negotiate deal → leave shortly after → join beneficiary/related firm
FIFA — ROMY GAI (WATCH):
• Ran AWE International (client list not public, had Saudi office)
• Joined FIFA as CBO (April 2022)
• Negotiated Stats Perform deal (Jan 2026, payment undisclosed)
• Still at FIFA (Feb 2026)
• If leaves for Vista/Stats Perform/DAZN/PIF by 2028: pattern confirmed
THE PATTERN:
1. Executive comes from opaque background (venture fund, consulting)
1. Negotiates deals with companies they may have relationships with
1. Deals structured with undisclosed/favorable terms
1. Executive leaves for beneficiary or related firm
1. Revolving door creates incentive for self-dealing
WHY THIS IS STRUCTURAL CORRUPTION:
Not individual bad actors. System designed to reward executives who give favorable
deals to future employers. Opacity makes it impossible to prove conflicts until
after they leave. By then, deals are done and money has flowed.
The Opacity Pattern
NFL opacity:
- Genius equity stake disclosed (SPAC filings) but not prominently
- 32 Equity portfolio not fully disclosed
- ESPN equity classification as "Strategic Ventures" instead of "All Revenues" (hides from CBA)
- Opacity serves to minimize player compensation and avoid scrutiny
FIFA opacity:
- Stats Perform payment completely undisclosed
- Romy Gai's AWE client list not public
- FIFA sits on $3.9B reserves but won't break out how money is allocated
- Saudi deals (Aramco, DAZN, SFD) have undisclosed terms
- Opacity is worse than NFL because FIFA is Swiss non-profit with minimal disclosure requirements
The pattern:
Both organizations use opacity to hide how money flows. NFL hides enough to minimize player compensation under CBA. FIFA hides everything because it doesn't have to disclose to anyone.
Opacity isn't a bug. It's the core feature of the extraction model.
The Saudi Pattern (FIFA-Specific but Growing)
The NFL doesn't have a Saudi equivalent yet. But FIFA's Saudi web shows where this is headed:
- Saudi PIF invests in DAZN ($1B) → FIFA sells rights to DAZN
- Aramco sponsors FIFA ($100M/year)
- Saudi Fund offers FIFA loans ($1B)
- FIFA awards 2034 World Cup to Saudi
- Money flows in circles, enriching sovereign wealth fund and FIFA
Prediction: Within 10 years, NFL will have similar circular relationships with sovereign wealth funds (Saudi PIF, Qatar QSI, Abu Dhabi, etc.) investing in NFL media partners, sponsors, or team ownership groups.
The globalization of sports means sovereign wealth funds will buy influence in American leagues the same way they've bought influence in FIFA.
The Universal Extraction Formula
Strip away the details and here's the formula both organizations use:
Step 1: Generate revenue from player performances
- NFL: $25B from games players play
- FIFA: $11B from World Cup players create
Step 2: Hide as much money as possible from revenue-sharing calculations
- NFL: Classify ESPN equity as "Strategic Ventures," hide 32 Equity gains, fight every CBA category
- FIFA: No revenue sharing at all, sit on $3.9B reserves, pay players $0 directly
Step 3: Create additional revenue streams via data/betting monopolies
- NFL: Genius Sports exclusive deal, profit from betting volume increase
- FIFA: Stats Perform exclusive deal, profit from betting (amount undisclosed)
Step 4: Build venture/investment structures to profit from companies you regulate
- NFL: 32 Equity invests in companies, then awards them contracts
- FIFA: Building same model via joint ventures, VC strategy announced
Step 5: Hire executives with opaque backgrounds who negotiate favorable deals for future employers
- NFL: Kevin LaForce (32 Equity → RedBird)
- FIFA: Romy Gai (AWE → FIFA → watching for Vista/DAZN/PIF move)
Step 6: Use opacity to make accountability impossible
- NFL: Minimal disclosure, fight transparency at every turn
- FIFA: Swiss non-profit with no accountability requirements
Result: Players get less than they generate. Executives and investors get more. The gap is hidden through corporate complexity and opacity.
STEP 1: GENERATE REVENUE FROM PLAYER PERFORMANCES
• NFL: $25B/year from games
• FIFA: $11B/cycle from World Cup
STEP 2: HIDE MONEY FROM REVENUE SHARING
• NFL: ESPN equity as “Strategic Ventures,” fight CBA categories
• FIFA: No revenue sharing, $3.9B reserves, pay players $0
STEP 3: CREATE DATA/BETTING MONOPOLIES
• NFL: Genius exclusive (profit from betting)
• FIFA: Stats Perform exclusive (profit undisclosed)
STEP 4: BUILD VENTURE/INVESTMENT STRUCTURES
• NFL: 32 Equity (invest in companies, award them contracts)
• FIFA: Building same (2025 VC strategy, joint ventures)
STEP 5: HIRE EXECUTIVES WITH OPAQUE BACKGROUNDS
• NFL: LaForce (32 Equity → RedBird)
• FIFA: Gai (AWE → FIFA → watch for revolving door)
STEP 6: USE OPACITY TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY
• NFL: Minimal disclosure, fight transparency
• FIFA: Swiss non-profit, zero accountability
RESULT:
Players get less than they generate. Executives and investors get more. Gap
hidden through corporate complexity. This is institutional extraction as a
business model.
Why This Matters
These aren't isolated corruption scandals. This is how modern sports business works:
- Maximize revenue from player performances
- Minimize compensation to players
- Hide money through corporate structures
- Enrich executives and investors
- Use opacity to avoid accountability
The NFL perfected this model domestically over 100+ years. FIFA adopted it globally.
And it's spreading:
- NBA has similar venture/investment strategies
- European football clubs use opaque ownership structures
- Sovereign wealth funds are buying influence everywhere
- Betting integration is accelerating globally
The pattern is universal. And without player leverage (unions, CBAs, strike power) or regulatory intervention (which isn't coming), it will only get worse.
The 14-Post Investigation
Across two series and 14 posts, we've documented:
NFL-ESPN Series (7 posts):
- ESPN equity misclassification (should be "All Revenues," classified as "Strategic Ventures")
- $7.5-10B at stake for 2027 CBA negotiations
- Four battlegrounds where NFL hides money from players
THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS Series (7 posts):
- NFL-Genius conflicts (NFL owns 8-10% equity, profits from betting)
- House edge doubled (5.4% → 9.3%) after Genius deal
- SGPs have 20%+ edge vs 5% straight bets
- $1.37B extra sportsbook profit in 2024 vs historical odds
- Legal exposure: class actions, antitrust, consumer protection
FIFA Series (7 posts):
- FIFA generates $11B, players get 3%
- Stats Perform monopoly (payment undisclosed)
- Saudi web (PIF, DAZN, Aramco, circular money)
- Post-2015 reforms failed (ethics purge 2017)
- Player extraction 16x worse than NFL
- Romy Gai (opaque background, Saudi ties)
- Global pattern connects to NFL
The common thread: institutional extraction hidden through opacity.
What Happens Next
The NFL and FIFA will continue operating these models because they face no meaningful pressure to stop:
- NFL players can't strike over ESPN equity (CBA expiration 2030, they'll fight but likely lose)
- FIFA players have zero leverage (no CBA, no strike capability)
- Regulators won't intervene (gaming commissions captured, antitrust enforcement weak)
- Fans keep watching (ratings up, revenue growing)
But the legal exposure is real:
- NFL faces potential class actions over betting data advantages (billions in potential damages)
- FIFA faces... nothing, because players can't organize globally
So the extraction will accelerate until something breaks:
- NFL: 2027 CBA negotiations, potential player revolt if ESPN equity isn't classified correctly
- FIFA: Nothing breaks because there's no mechanism for players to fight back
The system is designed to prevent reform from within. External intervention (courts, regulators, legislators) is the only hope. And that intervention isn't coming fast enough.
The Final Word
This investigation started with a simple question: where is the NFL hiding money from its players?
It expanded to: how do sports leagues extract value from the people who create it?
And it ends with a conclusion: This is the business model. Not a bug. Not isolated corruption. The fundamental design.
Hide revenue. Exclude players. Enrich executives and investors. Use opacity to avoid accountability.
The NFL does it at $25 billion scale domestically.
FIFA does it at $11 billion scale globally.
And the pattern is spreading to every sport that generates serious revenue.
The house always wins. Until someone forces it to lose.
HOW WE BUILT THIS:
Randy identified story angles, directed research, made editorial decisions, created visual identities. Claude conducted research, synthesized findings, drafted posts. Every fact sourced to primary sources. Every inference clearly labeled. Full transparency maintained.
WHAT WE DOCUMENTED:
• NFL hides $7.5-10B from players via ESPN equity misclassification
• NFL profits from betting via Genius equity, house edge doubled
• FIFA keeps 96.8% of revenue, players get 3%
• Both use opacity, data monopolies, venture funds, revolving doors
• Same extraction model, different scales, global pattern
SOURCES:
CBA documents, SPAC filings, financial statements, press releases, academic papers, court filings, investigative reports. All cited in individual posts.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
Sports leagues generate billions from player performances. Players get a fraction.
The gap is hidden through corporate complexity. This is institutional extraction
as business model. And it’s accelerating.
Thank you for reading.
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