FIFA has vowed to continue consultations on a proposal to sell minority stakes in its competitions to private investors, despite threats of a World Cup boycott from member associations.
European football’s 55 member associations voted on Thursday to boycott World Cups if FIFA goes ahead with the plan. CONCACAF, which oversees football in North and Central America, said its 41 members had also “rejected” it.
Responding on Friday morning, FIFA said “incorrect media reports” had disrupted its consultation process.
“Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts,” FIFA stated.
“Nobody is selling football,” the world body insisted.
Under the proposal, FIFA wants to set up a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, FFE, to run its main events including the World Cups. Third parties would be invited to make “minority, non-controlling investments” in FFE.
The plan requires approval by FIFA’s 211 members. President Gianni Infantino needs 106 votes to pass it. UEFA and CONCACAF’s 96 members combined appear set to vote against.
FIFA said the move was not about privatisation.
“FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself,” it said.
The statement added: “We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.”
FIFA Insists “Nobody Is Selling Football” Amid Boycott Threat Over Investment Plan
