CAF TO REVIEW FIFA’S CONTROVERSIAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT PROPOSAL
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By; Aina Daniel
The Confederation of African Football has announced plans to review FIFA’s proposal to allow private investors to acquire minority stakes in a new commercial entity that would oversee the governing body’s flagship competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, CAF said its President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, would convene a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee next week to examine the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
“The CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, will host a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee next week to assess and evaluate the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative,” the statement said.
FIFA unveiled the proposal on Tuesday, outlining plans to establish a commercial subsidiary responsible for managing major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the Club World Cup.
Under the plan, private investors would be permitted to acquire minority stakes in the new company. FIFA said it hopes to raise up to $4.2 billion, valuing the enterprise at approximately $20 billion.
If approved, the initiative would provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027. It would also increase funding allocations for member associations from $8 million to $20 million for the 2027–2030 cycle.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the proposal as “a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally.”
However, the initiative has faced opposition from UEFA, several leading European football associations and European Union officials, who argue that it could further commercialise the sport and create potential conflicts of interest.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football and the Asian Football Confederation have also raised concerns, saying FIFA should have consulted its 211 member associations before making the proposal public.
CAF said it would continue engaging with its member associations as it evaluates the proposal.
The African football body reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that would increase financial resources for the growth and development of football across Africa and the rest of the world.
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