FIFA needs a constitution for the commercial age

FIFA has pulled back a plan to create a new company, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would have placed its commercial rights and event operations under private investment. The proposal aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by offering investors a 20% stake at a valuation of $20 billion, with FIFA arguing it would unlock more funding for its 211 national member associations.

However, the plan faced significant backlash. Critics pointed to the lack of disclosed safeguards, potential conflicts of interest, and remuneration arrangements. The deal would have given private investors a lasting claim on World Cup revenues and a role in core operations. Opposition spread rapidly across confederations, national associations, and professional football, particularly as FIFA President Gianni Infantino is up for re-election.

The article argues that while the withdrawal was the right outcome, it highlights a need for a better governance model. A healthy system, it suggests, should not rely on last-minute coalitions to prevent decisions that go too far. The author disagrees with the idea of simply weakening FIFA, stating that a global sport requires a global authority to organize events like the World Cup, maintain rules, and direct funds to less-market-driven regions.

While acknowledging that leagues, clubs, and players also seek more influence, the piece emphasizes that any reform must balance influence with responsibility and preserve the system's global legitimacy. The primary goal should not be maximizing monetization but defining the limits of FIFA's authority. The current structure, based on national associations representing football in their territories, is outdated as leagues, clubs, and unions now play more significant roles in running competitions, employing players, and representing labor. This disconnect leads to recurring disputes over the calendar, player releases, transfers, and commercial control, indicating a need for FIFA to adapt its formal decision-making processes to the current distribution of responsibilities.