Infantino defends FIFA commercial proposal, says it is not compulsory

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended a proposal to establish a private subsidiary to manage the commercial rights of the organisation’s competitions, describing it as an opportunity rather than a mandatory decision.

The proposal, which involves creating FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to unlock the commercial value of tournaments such as the World Cup, sparked widespread criticism after details emerged on Tuesday.

Speaking in a video released on Wednesday, Infantino said the initiative was only a proposal and would be subject to approval by FIFA’s governing bodies.

“FIFA Forward Enterprise is actually a proposal, an offer. It’s part of a democratic consultation process and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation,” he said.

According to him, the proposed entity would focus on commercial activities, including sponsorship, broadcasting, licensing and other business ventures linked to FIFA-owned competitions.

Infantino argued that the move would help generate additional revenue for football development across FIFA’s 211 member associations by unlocking commercial opportunities that had not previously been fully utilised.

He stressed that the proposal would only proceed if approved through a democratic vote by FIFA’s member associations and the FIFA Council.

The FIFA president also assured football fans that the game itself would remain unchanged, adding that the additional revenue generated would benefit football development worldwide.

The proposal has generated debate over the future commercial structure of FIFA, with critics expressing concerns about the possible sale of stakes in the governing body’s flagship competitions.