The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), UEFA and Concacaf have called for an independent review of FIFA’s abandoned proposal to sell a stake in a company that would commercialise the rights to the World Cup and other major tournaments.
In a joint letter issued on Monday, the three confederations described the proposal as a “profound failure of judgment” and a “fundamental breach of trust.” They rejected FIFA’s explanation that the controversy resulted from poor communication, arguing that the plan was pursued without adequate consultation and on a timeline that limited proper scrutiny.
The confederations insisted that any investigation into the proposal must be conducted by a fully independent third party, rather than by FIFA itself. They also said FIFA officials, staff and other stakeholders involved in the original process should not participate in the review.
The dispute followed FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal in late July to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a company intended to commercialise rights to the World Cup and other major tournaments. The plan reportedly involved selling around 20 per cent of the company to private investors for approximately $4.2 billion, with proceeds expected to be distributed to national football associations.
FIFA eventually abandoned the proposal after strong opposition from football stakeholders. The AFC, UEFA and Concacaf said the controversy goes beyond the proposed commercial structure, raising broader concerns about governance, transparency and the integrity of football leadership.
The confederations also questioned the circumstances surrounding a recent FIFA leadership meeting in Morocco, claiming that no FIFA Council members or member associations were invited. They called for greater unity and leadership that serves the interests of football rather than concentrating authority.
The latest development comes amid growing criticism of Infantino and FIFA, with the governing body recently vowing to resist what it described as attempts to undermine the president. FIFA maintains that Infantino remains democratically elected and supported by its 211 member associations.
