FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued an apology for a controversial plan to commercialize the World Cup, confirming the proposal has been officially scrapped. The plan, which involved selling shares in a new subsidiary, had faced a “huge backlash” from football associations worldwide, notably UEFA, and had intensified calls for Infantino’s resignation ahead of his re-election bid.
The contentious proposal centered on the establishment of a new entity named the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). This subsidiary was reportedly valued at approximately £15 billion and aimed to invite “third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments.” The FFE would have been granted significant control over FIFA’s commercial and events operations, including the flagship World Cup tournament.
The controversial £15 billion proposal
The plan was met with widespread opposition, with UEFA leading the charge against its implementation. All 55 UEFA member associations publicly committed to boycotting all FIFA competitions if Infantino’s commercialization scheme were to proceed. This collective stance from European football’s governing body proved a critical turning point, ultimately leading to the withdrawal of the proposal.
In a joint statement released by Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, the organization acknowledged its missteps. “We acknowledge mistakes were made in the process of the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). It was certainly not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and it should have been handled differently,” the statement read, as reported by SportBible. FIFA and Infantino further expressed their sincere apologies for these errors, pledging they would not recur.
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The statement confirmed the project’s termination, adding a stern warning: “Furthermore, as already known, the proposal, which would have been subject to the approval of the FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, is now off the table. With the project withdrawn, FIFA will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.” The organization also stated that a necessary review into the errors of the proposal process would be presented to the FIFA Council at its next meeting.
Infantino’s re-election bid
The controversy has put increased pressure on Infantino’s future as FIFA president. Several football associations, including England, had previously withdrawn letters of support for his leadership. Despite the recent turbulence, Infantino is still set to stand for re-election in March, hoping to secure a fourth and final term. He would require 106 votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations to secure another term.
Amidst the apology, the joint statement also reaffirmed FIFA’s full support for Infantino, noting that the FIFA Secretary General and the Management Board in attendance reiterated their backing for him as “the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations.” The statement also praised the “great work of the FIFA Administration that ensured a successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
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