FIFA President Gianni Infantino has offered up to $40 million (£30 million) to each of the organisation’s 211 member associations in a bid to secure support for his controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in FIFA’s major competitions.
According to a five-page letter obtained by the BBC, Infantino said member associations that approve the proposal by September 19 would receive an initial $20 million (£15 million) from January 1, 2027, with another $20 million to follow later.
The proposal seeks to establish a new commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee FIFA’s flagship tournaments, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Under the plan, external investors would be allowed to purchase minority stakes in the new company.
Infantino said the initiative could generate as much as $10 billion (£7.52 billion), which would be used to increase funding for football development worldwide.
“It is my duty and responsibility as FIFA president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members,” Infantino wrote.
“It is equally my duty and responsibility to ensure such proposals are sufficiently complete and feasible, replete with substantiated figures and clear terms to assist you in the decision-making process,” he added.
FIFA said the initial funding for member associations would come from liquidating a minority portion of its stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise.
However, the proposal has attracted strong criticism from several football governing bodies, with opponents questioning the decision-making process and the possible influence of private investors on the sport’s biggest competitions.
The Football Association (FA) said it was not consulted before the proposal was announced and expressed concern over what it described as a lack of transparency.
“We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is and what conditions are attached,” an FA spokesperson said.
“Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point,” the statement added.
The controversy comes just days after football authorities across Europe, Asia and North America raised concerns that the proposal could significantly reshape the governance and commercial future of global football.
Meanwhile, UEFA’s 55 member associations are expected to hold an emergency meeting later this week to discuss FIFA’s investment proposal and its potential implications for the game.
