FIFA says it is pressing ahead with its consultation on its FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal after a backlash led by UEFA and its member associations. In response to an emergency meeting in which UEFA’s 55 member associations threaten to boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, unless the proposal is withdrawn, FIFA states it will continue its consultation process to bring private investment into the World Cup and other FIFA events. FIFA also insists that “nobody is selling football,” arguing that the intent is not to sell the sport itself, but to proceed with a commercial and investment framework.
Several outlets report that FIFA attributes disruption to what it describes as incorrect media reports, which it says affected the consultation process. Despite the boycott threat, FIFA does not agree to abandon the plan, instead reiterating its position while continuing the consultation period. The dispute centers on allegations and concerns about FIFA’s plan to involve private, US-based investment and questions over the proposed sale or transfer of stakes tied to World Cup commercial structures.
