‘Nobody is selling football’: Fifa issues response to Uefa’s threat of World Cup boycott | OneFootball

Fifa has insisted that “nobody is selling football” in response to criticism from member associations over its decision to set up a commercial entity tasked with selling stakes of the World Cup to private investors.

Football’s governing body has asked for consultation from member associations over the proposal with many holding meetings to discuss the plans in detail. Uefa, European football’s governing body, were furious when the plans for the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) - which is the name for the commercial entity - were revealed in the media earlier this week.

Less than 48 hours later, Uefa’s 55 member associations insisted they would not participate in any Fifa tournament until the plan was withdrawn and have confirmed that they will even boycott the next World Cup should they go through.

Concacaf, the governing body which hosted this summer’s World Cup and which which governs football in North and Central America, also rejected the proposal.

Fifa have now responded to those concerns through a statement of their own but have yet to withdraw plans to set up the FFE and push through to the end of the consultation period.

Fifa’s statement reads: “We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday.

“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.⁠ Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.

“FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations (MAs) have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself.

“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”

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Fifa president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan to introduce the Fifa Forward Enterprise commerical entity (AFP/Getty)

Meanwhile, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan and has an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner – the brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – lined up to take a minority stake in the new venture.

Infantino has written to Fifa members explaining that they will receive $40m (£30m) if they back his proposal before the deadline of 19 September with the MAs that do gaining access an initial $20m (£15m).

Fifa have also said that the proposals are subject to consultation and could be approved, rejected or amended, while Fifa’s current commercial activities would remain unchanged without majority backing from members.