FIFA has officially responded to strong criticism from UEFA and CONCACAF regarding its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, firmly rejecting claims that the initiative is intended to “put football up for sale.”
In a statement published through its official channels titled “Clarifications on the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) Proposal,” world football’s governing body said it respects the concerns raised and emphasized that the process will continue through open and democratic consultations.
FIFA also accused parts of the media of publishing inaccurate reports, arguing that such coverage has undermined the planned consultation process.
“No one is putting football up for sale, and FIFA would never consider doing such a thing,” the organization stated.
According to FIFA, the FFE project is designed to give all 211 member associations a greater role in managing the commercial rights, sponsorships, and broadcasting revenues of FIFA tournaments, without affecting the organization’s governance or independence.
FIFA also pushed back against UEFA’s criticism, stressing that no confederation can claim to speak on behalf of all national football associations.
“Every member association should have the opportunity to review the proposal and express its opinion. These are the democratic principles of FIFA,” the statement added.
How would the FFE project work?
Under the proposal, FIFA’s commercial and event management activities would be transferred to a company that would remain fully owned and controlled by FIFA.
Commercial revenues would then be distributed among all 211 national football associations, with the goal of increasing investment in football development worldwide.
Each member association would receive $20 million through the FIFA Forward program during the 2027–2030 cycle, regardless of its size or commercial contribution.
However, FIFA emphasized that the project will not move forward without the approval of a majority of its member associations.
“If the proposal does not receive the support of the majority of national associations, FIFA’s commercial activities will remain unchanged and FIFA Forward Enterprise will not be established,” the statement concluded.
