The European football governing body, UEFA has rejected FIFA’s proposal to sell minority stakes in a newly created commercial subsidiary, warning that the move risks commercialising the governance and identity of the sport.
FIFA announced on Tuesday that it plans to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial entity valued at $20 billion, to oversee its commercial and event operations while leaving football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and sporting regulations under FIFA’s direct control.
Under the proposal, which will be presented to FIFA’s 211 member associations for approval, external investors would be allowed to acquire minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE.
FIFA said the initiative aims to raise up to $4.2 billion, with the funds earmarked for expanding football development programmes and increasing financial support for member associations worldwide.
The organisation also unveiled an optional funding programme that would allow member associations to access additional development resources, including one-off capital grants of up to $20 million.
According to a FIFA, funding allocated to each member association would increase from $8 million to $20 million during the 2027-2030 funding cycle, with further increases planned in future cycles.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the proposal, saying football’s commercial success should be harnessed to drive the sport’s global development.
“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development,” Infantino said.
“Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value, and we celebrate that success because it lifts the whole game.”
He added that FIFA had a responsibility to ensure the game’s growth remains sustainable and inclusive across all regions.
However, UEFA strongly opposed the proposal, urging football stakeholders to reject it on the grounds that football’s governance should not become a commercial asset.
“The proposal crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” UEFA said in a statement.
“UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every national football association, leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.”
The European governing body also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding potential investors.
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.
“None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”
The strained relationship between the two governing bodies has deepened in recent years, with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin notably absent from the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.