UEFA has launched a sharp rebuke of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, accusing him of failing to uphold his leadership promises following the abrupt cancellation of a controversial private investment plan. The decision to shelve the project, which would have established a new commercial subsidiary called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was announced by Infantino after a significant backlash from global football stakeholders.
The abandoned proposal aimed to generate up to $4.2 billion based on a $20 billion valuation for the new entity, which was intended to manage major tournaments including the World Cup and the Club World Cup. Had it proceeded, FIFA suggested the project could have provided its 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, alongside an increased funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.
In a formal statement, UEFA did not mince its words in holding Infantino to account for the debacle less than a fortnight after he basked in the afterglow of a highly successful World Cup, the first with 48 teams and hosted in three countries. The organization specifically criticized the 56-year-old Swiss president for breaking commitments made during his 2016 election campaign regarding transparency and the management of funds. UEFA argued that Infantino had failed to treat the organization's money as belonging to its members, while also failing to utilize FIFA's reserves—which exceed $5 billion—for the broader benefit of the sport.
Other major bodies, including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which represents 47 member nations, and CONCACAF, also welcomed the withdrawal of the plan. The AFC, based in Kuala Lumpur, emphasized that any future initiatives impacting global football should be presented and discussed with confederations and stakeholders in a transparent, meaningful manner. Meanwhile, the English Football Association (FA) called for a robust review of FIFA's governance, and the German FA (DFB) urged a fundamental cultural shift within the governing body to ensure decisions are made collectively by members.
Infantino, who previously faced an unopposed path to re-election next year, stated that the project was intended to strengthen member associations but acknowledged it had created divisive reactions. "Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place," he said. He added that his focus would now shift to restoring harmony and continuing to support the growth of football, particularly in nations that require the most assistance.
Their response came hours after Infantino, whose previous smooth path to unopposed re-election for a final term next year is being openly questioned, had issued a statement announcing the humiliating climb down after a furious backlash since the plan was first revealed on Tuesday.
"Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support," he said.
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