A major row has broken out between football’s governing bodies over FIFA’s plans to seek private investment in the World Cup, with UEFA reacting angrily and European nations ready to discuss a potential boycott
FIFA announced on Tuesday that it was seeking to launch FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would bring together the sale of FIFA’s commercial rights – including broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing – with the operational delivery of its tournaments
Under the proposal, FIFA would raise up to $4.2bn (£3.1bn) from external investors through the sale of minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE, which it says would be valued at around $20bn (£15bn)
The governing body says its plans – which need approval from member associations – could deliver more than $10bn in “football development funding” over the next four years
But UEFA, European football’s governing body, released a furious statement that said the proposals “crossed a line”
UEFA nations are now expected to hold an emergency meeting virtually this week and Sky Sports News understands there is a willingness to use the threat of a boycott if FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushes ahead with the plans
Prime Minister Andy Burnham voiced his criticism on Tuesday evening, saying on X: “Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.”
On Wednesday morning, an FA spokeswoman added: “We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is, and what conditions are attached
“Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved
“When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear, and comment further.”
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‘None of us are the owners of football’
Relations between UEFA and FIFA were already under severe strain, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin not attending the World Cup final in protest at a series of FIFA governance issues, including its handling of the Folarin Balogun case
But the way the plans emerged, as well as the proposal itself, provoked fresh fury on Tuesday, with FIFA not raising the landmark strategy during meetings with football associations in New York on the eve of the World Cup final
It is understood the English Football Association (FA) was completely unaware of the plans – first reported in the Financial Times and The Times. Sky Sports News has contacted the Scottish FA and Welsh FA for comment
UEFA said in a statement after those reports emerged that the “soul and governance of football are not assets to trade”
“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.”
‘Remarkable commercial value’ in football – FIFA explains proposal
FIFA later moved to clarify the proposed new structure, with a spokesperson saying it was beginning a consultation process after receiving a proposal that is currently under review
FIFA confirmed to Sky Sports Newsthat JP Morgan is acting as financial adviser on the project, with Thrive Capital – whose chief executive is Josh Kushner, brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared – expected to lead the proposed investor group
FIFA insists it would retain sole control over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all sporting and regulatory decisions, with any outside investment in a FIFA subsidiary rather than FIFA itself
The additional funding, it says, would allow it to increase payments to its 211 member associations through its FIFA Forward programme, raising funding from the currently budgeted $8m to $20m per association for the 2027-2030 cycle
Member associations could also access up to $20m in optional one-off funding for major projects through a new FIFA Fast Forward Programme
Infantino said the proposal would help “democratise football worldwide” and ensure more of the game’s commercial success is reinvested into development projects around the globe
“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development,” said Infantino
“Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game … our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world.”
FIFA said the plans would soon be presented to its member associations and the FIFA Council, who would be the sole decision-makers on whether to proceed
The governing body FIFA also dismissed suggestions that Infantino could become chief executive of the new entity when his final term as president ends, saying such a move has “never been discussed”
But FIFA said both the president and the administration would need to play leading roles in any new entity to ensure FIFA retains control of any subsidiary in line with its statutes and regulations and for the benefit of member associations
FIFA is a not-for-profit organisation owned by the 211 associations that make up its membership. As an association of associations, it enjoys a tax-free status in Switzerland where it is based
Its revenue for the 2022-26 cycle is expected to be $15bn (£112.8bn), the majority of which comes from TV rights, sponsorship and ticket and hospitality sales from the men’s World Cup this summer
The next World Cup is the women’s tournament in Brazil next year
Sky Sports Newshas additionally asked the Asian Football Confederation, Confederation Africaine de Football, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the Oceania Football Confederation for comment
