The Asian Football Confederation announced its position on the proposal of FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the presence of investors who would obtain 20% of the shares of the International Football Federation, alongside the presence of a company called "fifa forward enterprise", which would oversee the management of upcoming tournaments.
The Asian Confederation had announced in a previous statement that the International Federation "FIFA" had not offered the Asian Confederation the opportunity to discuss this proposal.
The Asian Confederation affirmed in an official statement today, Friday, that it rejects the proposal of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and stands in solidarity with the position of the European Confederation and CONCACAF.
The European Confederation and the CONCACAF Confederation had expressed strong objection to Infantino's new proposal, to the extent of boycotting FIFA tournaments.
See.. Officially | The European Confederation announces boycott of the World Cup
Asian Football Confederation statement on
Infantino's new proposalThe Asian Football Confederation has followed with great concern the developments witnessed in recent days related to the proposal to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and the resulting state of uncertainty within the global football community.
The Asian Confederation affirms its solidarity with the European Football Confederation and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF) in expressing their serious concerns regarding FIFA's proposal to introduce private investment in its major tournaments, as well as regarding the decision-making mechanism related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The Asian Confederation believes that the situation reaching a stage where the possibility of boycotting the World Cup has become a topic of public discussion must concern everyone who cares about the future of the game, as football should never have reached such a position.
In light of this, and given the clear positions announced by both the European Football Confederation and CONCACAF, in addition to the unprecedented divisions that have emerged within the global football family, the Asian Confederation believes that the proposal for the FIFA Forward Enterprise cannot realistically achieve the consensus and unity necessary to move forward, as the World Cup represents the pinnacle of world football and derives its strength from the participation of all continental confederations and the world's leading national teams, and any proposal that threatens the unity and global character of the tournament must be reconsidered.
Although the current discussion focuses on the FIFA Forward Enterprise, the Asian Confederation believes that the issue goes beyond this specific proposal, as it has revealed fundamental weaknesses in the consultation and decision-making mechanisms within FIFA, issues that should be addressed now.
Although the Asian Confederation has taken note of the latest clarification issued by FIFA regarding the proposal, the fundamental concerns related to governance, institutional procedures, and genuine consultation remain unanswered.
The Asian Confederation affirms that a proposal of this importance, which could affect the commercial, sporting, and strategic future of world football, should not emerge through procedures that make the continental confederations, member national associations, and even FIFA's own governing bodies, including the FIFA Council, feel marginalized.
The primary goal of world football must be to ensure that decisions of this magnitude are prepared through procedures based on transparency and that enjoy the confidence of the football community.
The Asian Confederation notes that this is not the first time that key stakeholders in the game have found themselves facing major initiatives after it appears their course has already been predetermined. It believes that such an approach undermines confidence in FIFA's governance framework and weakens the standing of its statutory bodies.
Furthermore, any subsequent consultation process, regardless of the intentions behind it, cannot replace the involvement of FIFA's competent bodies and the football family from the earliest stages.
The Asian Confederation believes that this moment should serve as an incentive to strengthen institutional reform. While every national association member of FIFA should have the opportunity to study proposals that affect the future of world football and take a position on them, true democracy is not measured merely by the opportunity to vote, but begins with transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation, and genuine participation throughout the decision-making process.
Accordingly, the Asian Football Confederation calls on FIFA to conduct an urgent review of its governance framework and decision-making mechanisms to ensure that proposals of global importance are prepared through sound consultations, genuine participation, and appropriate oversight by FIFA's statutory bodies.
The Asian Confederation concludes its statement by affirming that the World Cup, and football itself, belong to all members of the global football family, and that their future must always be charted collectively, through institutions that reflect the voices of all continental confederations and member national associations.
