The North American Football Confederation (CONCACAF) and its 41 members issued an official statement to object to the proposal by the International Football Federation "FIFA" to invest in the World Cup tournament.
The CONCACAF statement read as follows: "CONCACAF represents a continental union united by the love of football, where football comes first".
It added: "Based on this philosophy, over the past ten years we have built an organization based on serving the community, transparent governance, and sound long-term management of football".
The official statement continued: "History has shown FIFA and the football family what happens when those in charge of the game overlook these values".
It continued: "Based on this, CONCACAF held a meeting today for the heads of its 41 member associations, along with the president of the union, members of its council, and members of the FIFA Council".
It completed: "A proposal prepared by the FIFA President and presented to establish (FIFA Forward Foundation) and sell shares in the World Cup to private sector investors will be discussed".
It added: "During the meeting, members expressed their deep concern about the lack of due legal procedures in this proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval from the relevant FIFA governing bodies".
It continued: "In addition, questions were raised about the feasibility of private capital investment to finance new and existing (FIFA Forward) programs, following the most profitable World Cup in history".
The discussion resulting from the meeting emphasized the need to enhance transparency and sound governance; for these reasons, the CONCACAF Association and its 41 member associations have:
1- Rejected the proposal of the International Football Federation "FIFA" and its President Gianni Infantino.
2- Tasked the members of the CONCACAF Board of Directors to communicate with FIFA to determine how to use the latter's current reserves to increase funding for the proposed football development program in our region.
3- Tasked the members of the CONCACAF Board of Directors to direct the FIFA President to ensure that all sound administrative procedures are followed, through the staff and the Board of Directors of the International Federation of the Game, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.
4- Through these procedures, CONCACAF reaffirms that the future of football, and its most important assets, must remain in the hands of the football family.
