FIFA president
The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which was unveiled in late July, aimed to open premium competitions to private equity. The plan was eventually scrapped following intense backlash from major confederations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF. During the closed-door session, council members sought clarity on the decision-making process, but were left dissatisfied with the responses provided by the FIFA leadership.
Council Members Demand Accountability
Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association and a member of the
Hewitt highlighted that the council had specifically requested documentation related to the FFE proposal, which had not been presented to them prior to its public announcement in July. The failure to provide these documents or address specific queries has left some members feeling that their concerns remain unaddressed. Hewitt stated that her position on the matter has not shifted, noting that she left the meeting without any new information to change her perspective.
Election Context and Financial Proposals
The controversy surrounding the FFE plan, alongside other issues such as the awarding of a FIFA Peace Prize to former US President Donald Trump and the handling of disciplinary matters involving US striker Folarin Balogun, has led several European national associations to withdraw their support for Infantino ahead of next March's election. Despite these challenges, no major challenger has yet emerged to contest his presidency.
Looking ahead, FIFA is focusing on a new proposal to establish a USD 6.35-billion development fund for the next four-year cycle. This plan, which intends to distribute USD 25 million to each of the 211 member associations, is expected to be financed partly through financial reserves and the commercial success of the 2026 World Cup. Infantino may be looking to this initiative to bolster his standing before the November 18 deadline for submitting election candidacies.
