All 41 member associations within Concacaf have officially joined UEFA in rejecting a controversial proposal put forth by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The decision follows a meeting held by the confederation on Thursday afternoon, during which the organization reviewed the plan to sell stakes in FIFA's major tournaments to private investors.
The proposal in question involves the creation of a new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE), which would assume control over the operations of major events, including the World Cup and the Club World Cup. FIFA is reportedly seeking to raise £3.2 billion by selling a 21% minority stake in FFE, with the resulting funds intended to be distributed among member associations. However, representatives at the Concacaf meeting questioned the necessity of private equity investment, particularly as the initiative follows what was described as the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history. Concerns were also raised regarding the funding of new and existing FIFA Forward programs.
In their formal statement, Concacaf rejected the proposal and formally requested that FIFA Council Members instruct the FIFA president to ensure that all future matters of this nature adhere to proper governance processes involving staff and the FIFA Council. While the stance aligns with that of UEFA, which expressed its opposition earlier in the day, the Concacaf nations notably made no mention of a potential World Cup boycott. For the proposal to move forward, it requires approval from both the FIFA Council and FIFA’s 211 member associations.
In other football news, the Premier League has issued a statement regarding why Tottenham were not awarded a penalty against Leeds involving James Maddison. The Spurs midfielder was denied a big moment on his return from injury as the Premier League explained the decision during the draw.
Tah puts World Cup disappointment behind him: "I'm eager to get going!"
Predicting which clubs the summer's biggest free agents will sign for
