.png)
KUALA LUMPUR - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has called on FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework following concerns surrounding the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The AFC said the issue extends beyond a single proposal, adding that it had exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes.
"Accordingly, the AFC calls upon FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement and appropriate oversight by FIFA's statutory bodies," the association said in a statement today.
Last Tuesday, FIFA announced the proposal to establish FFE to manage major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
Under the plan, private investors would be allowed to hold minority stakes in the company, with FIFA targeting proceeds of up to USD4.2 billion (about RM19.4 billion) based on a company valuation of USD20 billion (RM92.4 billion).
If approved, each of FIFA's 211 member associations would receive a one-off payment of USD20 million (RM92.4 million) in early 2027, while development funding for the 2027-2030 cycle would increase from USD8 million to USD20 million.
The AFC said while every FIFA Member Association (MA) must have the opportunity to consider and determine proposals affecting the future of world football, meaningful democracy is not measured solely by the opportunity to vote.
The AFC also said a proposal of such significance, with the potential to affect the commercial, sporting and strategic future of world football, must not emerge through processes that leave confederations, MAs and even FIFA's own governing bodies, including the FIFA Council, feeling sidelined.
It said the primary objective for world football must be to ensure that decisions of such magnitude are developed through processes that are anchored on transparency and command the confidence of the football community.
In the meantime, AFC stands in the solidarity with Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in expressing serious concerns over the issue.
On Thursday, UEFA's 55 member associations will not participate in FIFA competitions including World Cup and unanimously rejected FIFA’s proposal.
As such, AFC said the fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of the World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of the game as football should never have been placed in such a position.
CONCACAF and its 41 MAs, on the other hand, had rejected FIFA’s proposal during the meeting also on Thursday. - BERNAMA
