- Fifa's contentious proposal to sell stakes in a new World Cup company, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), has faced a significant setback after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined Uefa and Concacaf in rejecting the plan.
- This collective opposition now represents a formidable bloc of 143 out of Fifa’s 211 member associations, making the approval of the proposal highly improbable.
- The plan involved selling a 20 per cent stake in FFE to private investors, with Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Eternal reportedly identified as the lead investor group.
- Both the AFC and Uefa expressed serious concerns over the lack of consultation and transparency, stating that member associations were reportedly unaware of the plans until media reports emerged, highlighting "fundamental weaknesses in Fifa’s consultation and decision-making processes".
- The widespread rejection has cast significant doubt on the leadership of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, with Concacaf nations reportedly losing confidence and Uefa threatening to boycott Fifa competitions if the proposal is not withdrawn.
IN FULL
