ZURICH — FIFA executives faced mounting pressure on Friday after a proposed sale of a stake in the governing body’s World Cup commercial operations triggered a leadership dispute and demands for greater accountability over the handling of the plan.
The controversy centers on FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed commercial entity that would combine rights linked to FIFA competitions, including broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing activities. FIFA had explored selling a minority stake in the venture to outside investors, with the company valued at about $20 billion and investors potentially acquiring up to 20% ownership, according to reports and people familiar with the proposal.
The plan has since prompted criticism from several football associations and officials who said they were not adequately consulted before the proposal advanced. The Norwegian Football Federation called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, with federation president Lise Klaveness saying confidence in his leadership had been damaged.
UEFA and several European football bodies have also opposed the proposal, arguing that decisions involving the commercial future of FIFA competitions require broader consultation among stakeholders. UEFA has maintained pressure on FIFA over governance concerns and has discussed possible responses, including conditions for future cooperation.
FIFA has defended the initiative as a way to increase financial distributions to its 211 member associations while keeping control of sporting and regulatory decisions. The organization has said the proposed structure would not transfer control of competitions to private investors.
The dispute has also raised questions over the role of senior FIFA officials involved in developing the proposal. Reports said some executives were excluded from parts of the process, while others questioned the internal approval procedures used before the plan became public. FIFA has not publicly confirmed all details of the internal discussions.
The proposal initially included financial incentives for member associations that supported participation in the new structure, with FIFA setting a deadline for associations to indicate interest in receiving early funding linked to the plan.
FIFA has since apologized for aspects of the process and said it would review internal procedures, while Infantino continues to face calls from some federations for changes in leadership and governance.
No final agreement to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial entity has been announced, and discussions over the proposal’s future and the organization’s governance remain ongoing.
