AFC, UEFA, and CONCACAF demand independent review of FIFA's failed commercial rights proposal
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 commercialize World Cup rights. In a joint letter, the three confederations described the proposal as a "profound failure of judgment" and a "fundamental breach of trust." They rejected FIFA's characterization of the controversy as a communication failure, arguing that the proposal was advanced without meaningful consultation. The confederations insisted that any review of the process must be conducted by a fully independent third party, not by FIFA itself or its staff. The dispute arose from FIFA President Gianni Infantino's late July proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, which aimed to sell approximately 20 percent of the company to private investors for about $4.2 billion. This plan drew strong opposition, leading FIFA to abandon it. The confederations also questioned the circumstances of a recent leadership meeting in Morocco, noting that only one elected official was present and no FIFA Council members or member associations were invited. FIFA, in response, vowed to resist efforts to undermine President Infantino, stating he remains democratically elected and backed by its 211 member associations, while dismissing recent allegations as unsubstantiated.
