FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed concerns over the organization's proposal to establish a private subsidiary aimed at maximizing commercial gains from the World Cup and other FIFA-owned competitions.
Speaking on Wednesday, Infantino clarified that the initiative, dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), is a proposal open for consultation and not a binding commitment.
Key points from Infantino's remarks include:
- The proposal is designed to unlock untapped commercial potential to better support football development worldwide.
- Implementation depends on approval through a democratic vote by FIFA's 211 member associations and the FIFA Council.
- The new structure would manage sponsorships, broadcasting, licensing, and new ventures to benefit all member associations.
- Infantino assured that the essence of the game and fan experience would remain unchanged and could improve through the increased resources.
Infantino emphasized the need for specialized expertise to handle the commercial aspects separately from the governance and development of the sport.
He described the proposal as a "golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally," stressing that it remains an option rather than an obligation.
