UEFA will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss Gianni Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which would see FIFA’s commercial and operational arms merged into a private-equity funded body.
Infantino wrote to all 211 Member Associations giving them a September 19 deadline to back the project, and offering a $40m payment as an incentive for doing so.
UEFA has responded with another strong statement:
“Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.
“But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme.
“FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.”
There is movement within UEFA to find a candidate to run against Gianni Infantino at the next election in March. November 18 is the deadline.
Germany, Norway, Belgium and Spain are four of a growing number of federations keen to ensure Infantino doesn’t stand unopposed.
Infantino points to having backing from 200+ of FIFA’s 211 members, but letters of endorsement can be transferred. The English FA’s letter was sent before the World Cup.
A senior UEFA source has told @talkSPORT that failure for Infantino to ratify his new FFE plans “would constitute a clear vote of no confidence extending far beyond the proposal alone”.
The backlash has been compared by some within UEFA to the ill-fated European Super League launch, but FIFA sources stress several confederations are angered only by the lack of consultation and have not rejected the idea.
