CONMEBOL expresses concern over FIFA commercial plans, welcomes withdrawal of enterprise proposal

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has voiced its concern regarding recent commercial ventures by FIFA, stating that these initiatives were advanced without proper institutional dialogue. In a declaration titled "Football Comes First," CONMEBOL's Council highlighted its apprehension over proposals that bypassed established mechanisms for discussion and analysis. A key point of contention was the now-abandoned plan to sell stakes related to the World Cup to private investors. CONMEBOL explicitly celebrated FIFA's subsequent decision to withdraw the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, signaling relief that this particular initiative was halted. The confederation emphasized the importance of preserving institutional integrity within the sport, suggesting that such commercial dealings should be subject to thorough review and consensus-building among football's governing bodies.