FIFA Presses Ahead with Investment Plan Amid Widespread Opposition

FIFA is pushing ahead with a controversial plan to sell stakes in its major competitions to private investors, a move that has drawn strong condemnation from European and North/Central American football associations. Despite 55 European member associations voting to boycott World Cups and Concacaf's 41 member associations rejecting the proposal, FIFA stated it will continue its consultation process.

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Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.

The governing body for world football intends to establish a commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage its main events. External investors would be invited to make minority, non-controlling investments in this new entity. FIFA claims this initiative is designed to ensure that all member associations can take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunities within football in their respective countries.

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Nobody is selling football.

However, the plan faces significant opposition. UEFA and Concacaf members combined represent 96 associations, who appear poised to vote against the proposal, which requires approval from at least 106 of FIFA's 211 members. FIFA has responded to the backlash by stating that incorrect media reports disrupted its consultation process and that it will proceed to ensure all member associations can vote based on facts, insisting that "nobody is selling football."

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We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.