UEFA has issued a strongly worded statement condemning FIFA's proposal to create a private company, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to handle the sale of commercial rights and operational delivery of its tournaments. UEFA said the World Cup is not an "asset to trade" and warned that the plan crosses a line football governing institutions should never cross.
UEFA's Statement and Concerns
In its statement, UEFA said: "This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every national football association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell."
Details of FIFA's Proposal
FIFA announced on Tuesday that it is seeking to create FFE, subject to approval from national associations and the FIFA Council. The governing body said the creation of the company would lead to a significant increase in football development funding to national associations, bringing total planned spending on development to more than 10 billion US dollars (£7.5bn) over the next four years. FIFA stated it would retain "exclusive authority" over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions.
FIFA added that, if approved, it plans to "carefully select long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests in FFE." It revealed that Thrive Eternal, a company launched in April by Joshua Kushner, the brother of United States President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, would lead the proposed investor group. JP Morgan has been engaged to work alongside FIFA on the proposal.
Role of Gianni Infantino
The Times reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino could become the commissioner or chief executive of the new vehicle from 2031. Infantino is seeking re-election as FIFA president next year on a four-year term. FIFA's statement did not provide any information on any role for Infantino within FFE, other than to say it would be owned and controlled by FIFA. The company's implied valuation was $20bn (£15bn).
The vast majority of FIFA's revenue is generated from the men's World Cup. The Guardian reported earlier this month that FIFA is set to announce the tournament in North America generated $15bn (£11bn) in income.
Background Context
UEFA's statement follows its president Aleksander Ceferin opting not to attend the World Cup final in protest at a series of governance decisions and actions by FIFA he had not agreed with.
