FIFA Drops Investor Plan after Opposition from Football Bodies

FIFA has abandoned its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project after strong opposition from football confederations, national associations and other stakeholders, with President Gianni Infantino saying the plan had become too divisive.

The proposal would have created a new commercial company to manage the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments.

Under the plan, FIFA had considered selling a minority stake to private investors and using the money to increase funding for member associations, particularly in developing football nations.

In a statement on Friday, Infantino said the project was originally designed to strengthen football around the world.

"The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed," he said.

Infantino stressed that FIFA had always planned to move forward only with broad support.

"We said from the outset" that the project would proceed "only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders," he said.

However, he acknowledged that the proposal had caused deep disagreements.

"Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place," Infantino said.

He added, "Our purpose has always been, and will always be, to unite and improve.

"As a result, this proposal will not proceed."

The plan had drawn criticism from UEFA, several national football associations and other stakeholders, who argued that football's most valuable commercial rights should remain under the direct control of the sport's governing bodies.

Critics also raised concerns about transparency and the long-term influence private investors could have over the global game.

Infantino said FIFA will now focus on rebuilding consensus.

"Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support," he said.