FIFA hit back in early hours over controversial World Cup plans prompts boycott threat
FIFA have issued a statement addressing the ‘feedback’ they have had from member federations about their controversial plans to sell of part of the running of the World Cup.
It emerged earlier this week that the world governing body had proposed the formation of FIFA Forward Enterprise – an endeavour that would see stakes in its competitions sold off to private investors.
FIFA have set a deadline of September 19 for member federations to accept the proposal, which would then see each FA receive $20m (£14.9m) on January 1.
However, the proposal has been met with widespread outrage, with European confederation UEFA and North American counterpart CONCACAF both announcing their federations would unanimously boycott FIFA competitions if the plans proceed.
The Asian Football Confederation also criticised the plans on Friday morning, pushing the dissenting contingent over the 50% of member federations required for FIFA to succeed in a vote on the plans’ future.
However, FIFA insisted in a statement sent out at 4am UK time on Friday morning that they intended to press ahead with their consultation period regardless.
The statement said: “We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday.
“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.
“Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.
“FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations (MAs) have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself.
“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.
“Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA.”
It added: “These components [of the proposal] represent the starting point of the consultation process and are open for discussion as part of that process. This can include approval, rejection or amendment in their entirety or individually.
“These principles underpin the FFE proposal: unprecedented development funding, truly global ownership of the commercial opportunities of our sport, and full self-determination through a democratic process for all MAs.
