Gianni Infantino abandons controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise plan after backlash

Gianni Infantino has withdrawn FIFA’s proposal to create a commercial organisation that would have allowed private investors to take stakes in the commercial rights to FIFA competitions, following mounting opposition from football’s governing bodies.

The FIFA president announced the decision early on Saturday, saying the project would not proceed because it had created divisions within the game.

“FIFA Forward Enterprise was intended to provide a basis for continuing to strengthen our FIFA member associations and football around the world, particularly in those countries most in need of support,” Infantino said in an official statement.

The proposal had envisaged the creation of a new company, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would bring together FIFA’s commercial activities and its tournament operations while making part of the organisation available to private investors.

Opposition to the plan intensified in recent days. UEFA had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if Infantino continued with the project, while the proposal also faced resistance from the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf.

Carlos Cordeiro, the American senior adviser to the FIFA president, resigned in protest at the plan. Kevin Lamour, FIFA’s French chief operating officer, had also criticised the proposal.

Infantino said the project had always been conditional on securing broad support from FIFA’s member associations and maintaining consultation with them, the FIFA Council, the confederations and other stakeholders.

“Moreover, as we made clear from the outset, this could only happen if the project enjoyed the support of a majority of FIFA member associations, and was always subject to a process of consultation with them, as well as with the FIFA Council, the confederations and all other stakeholders,” he said.

But after considering the views expressed by those involved, Infantino concluded that the plan could no longer fulfil its intended purpose.

“After listening carefully to all the views, it became clear that the project had caused divisions, in a way that meant its continuation – regardless of the level of support it enjoyed – was no longer in the best interests of the objective for which it was originally created,” he added.

“Our goal has been, and will always be, to unite and develop the game. Accordingly, this proposal will not be taken forward.”

The plan had been presented as a way of generating additional resources to support national football associations and develop the sport globally, especially in countries requiring the greatest assistance. However, its proposed involvement of private capital in FIFA’s commercial rights prompted concern among several of the sport’s governing bodies.

Infantino said he would now seek to bring the parties involved together again in an effort to restore cooperation.

“In the next phase, I intend to bring all the relevant parties together again over the coming days and weeks, in a spirit of care for the common interest of football, and with the aim of continuing to develop the game around the world, particularly in those countries most in need of our support,” he said.