CONCACAF has expressed serious reservations about FIFA's proposal to sell minority shares in its World Cup and other football competitions through a semi-private entity named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The football body for North and Central America criticized the move for its lack of proper consultation and transparency, aligning with UEFA's earlier condemnation of the plan.
FIFA’s Investment Plan Details
- FIFA intends to retain majority control of FFE while raising approximately $4.2 billion from selected long-term investors.
- The plan includes offering member associations a chance to buy a $20 million stake each, representing 0.1% of the entity.
- FIFA projects an initial valuation of $20 billion for FFE and expects the investments to boost development funding to over $10 billion in four years.
Reactions From Football Governance and Stakeholders
- UEFA condemned the plan, warning it threatens football’s integrity and governance, emphasizing that the sport should not be treated as a tradable asset.
- The European Union’s sports commissioner publicly opposed the scheme, urging FIFA to "keep hands off our game."
- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham criticized the proposal, stating that football belongs to fans and communities, not investors.
- CONCACAF highlighted disappointment that the plan was leaked publicly before any formal discussion with relevant stakeholders.
Next Steps and Potential Impact
FIFA plans to present the proposal to its 38-member council and 211 member associations for approval. The initiative has raised fears it could alter the frequency and scale of major tournaments like the World Cup and Club World Cup.
Previous attempts to attract private investment into FIFA competitions have faced resistance, and critics warn this new approach could disrupt football globally.
