FIFA has defended its proposed private equity initiative linked to the FIFA World Cup, insisting that “nobody is selling football” as opposition to the plan continues to grow among major football confederations around the world.
In a statement issued on Friday, world football’s governing body dismissed reports suggesting it intended to sell the World Cup, attributing the backlash to what it described as “erroneous reporting in the media.”
The proposal centres on the creation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary that would allow private investors to acquire a minority stake in FIFA’s commercial operations.
FIFA stressed that its commercial activities would remain under its control and assured stakeholders that the proposed entity would only be established with the approval of its 211 member associations.
“FIFA’s commercial activities would remain unchanged. FFE would not be established. Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain,” the governing body stated.
The organisation also pledged to undertake extensive consultations with its member associations before any final decision is reached, maintaining that the proposal would not proceed if members rejected it.
The clarification follows mounting resistance from several continental football bodies.
UEFA announced that its 55 member associations would boycott FIFA competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, should the proposal be implemented. The European football governing body argued that the World Cup belongs to the global football community and should never be subject to private ownership or commercial sale.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) also opposed the proposal, questioning the rationale for seeking private investment after FIFA recorded unprecedented revenues from recent World Cup tournaments.
Similarly, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed concerns over governance, transparency and what it described as an inadequate consultation process, calling for a comprehensive review of FIFA’s decision-making framework.
Under the proposal championed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the FFE would reportedly be valued at approximately $20 billion, with private investors holding a 20 per cent stake. FIFA has indicated that proceeds from the arrangement would enable it to double financial support to member associations from $10 million to $20 million over the next four years.
The controversy intensified further on Friday following the resignation of senior FIFA adviser and former United States Soccer Federation president, Carlos Cordeiro, who reportedly stepped down in protest over the proposed commercial restructuring.
The growing opposition has intensified pressure on FIFA as it seeks to convince member associations that the initiative is designed to strengthen football’s financial future without compromising the ownership or integrity of the sport.
