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UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) have called for an independent review of FIFA’s controversial investment proposal.
Call for an independent investigation
The three organizations published an open letter on UEFA’s official website, arguing that the review should be conducted by an independent third party with no involvement from FIFA’s administration or other football stakeholders.
They said FIFA’s own statement acknowledged that the proposal itself was fundamentally flawed but failed to recognize the broader governance concerns surrounding the attempt.
The organizations argued that the plan to sell a stake in the World Cup represented more than a procedural mistake and amounted to a serious breach of trust in FIFA’s institutions.
FIFA has committed to providing its Council with a full report on the matter. However, UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF said FIFA officials should play no role in conducting the review.
Pressure on Infantino
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has faced growing criticism over the proposal to create a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and attract private investment, including from a fund linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
UEFA responded by announcing a boycott of FIFA, while 55 national teams were reportedly prepared to skip tournaments in protest. Two other continental confederations also opposed the plan.
Infantino ultimately abandoned the proposal following the backlash.
The controversy has continued to fuel criticism of FIFA’s leadership and its approach to governance and commercial decisions.
