FIFA has scrapped the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, an initiative backed by president Gianni Infantino that would have brought private investment into the management of the governing body’s competitions, including the World Cup.
The plan called for creating a company to oversee commercial assets such as broadcast rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and competition licences, allowing private investors to take part. It drew widespread opposition almost immediately after it became public, and Infantino’s assurances that nobody was selling football failed to calm the controversy.
In a statement, FIFA said the proposal had created divisions of such a nature that, regardless of the level of support, they no longer served the goal originally set out. The organisation said its purpose had always been to unite and improve, and that the proposal would therefore not go forward.
FIFA added that any change of this scale could only move ahead with the backing of a majority of its 211 member associations, and that it would continue talking with federations to explore new development alternatives for world football.
The opposition from confederations proved decisive. UEFA led the criticism and signalled it would not support the initiative. Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation also expressed their opposition. Conmebol called for any commercial decision to keep football and its values as the priority.
Following the withdrawal, Infantino said he intended to resume dialogue with national associations to explore ways to strengthen football development, particularly in countries with the greatest needs.