UEFA hits out at FIFA proposals to bring in external investment | OneFootball

World football’s governing body FIFA is proposing to invite third-party investment into its operations, which it says will increase its “football development funding” across the globe to more than £7.5bn.

But European football’s governing body UEFA has reacted angrily to the proposals, saying it “crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross”.

“Uefa takes it extremely seriously,” the statement added. “So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder who cares about the future of the game.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

FIFA’s proposals would see them launch a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

But FIFA stresses that they would still see keep “exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions” by maintaining a controlling stake in the enterprise.

Under the proposals, FIFA says its funding for each Member Association would increase from $8 million to $20 million between 2027 and 2030, and would rise further after that cycle.

“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.

“Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game. Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it: FIFA exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world.

“As its global governing body, FIFA is responsible for making sure the game reaches every corner of the world, and that the value it creates supports federations and communities everywhere. Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world.

“Every FIFA Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.

“We intend to invest heavily even in the smallest or most remote parts of the footballing world, places that are too often passed over. Every FIFA Member Association, whatever its size, resources, or geographic location will have a voice and the opportunity to determine its own course. Football has become a truly global game and so the benefits must be felt globally.”