AFC joins UEFA, CONCACAF in opposing FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has expressed its "deep concern" over recent developments surrounding the proposed creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), warning that the initiative has created unprecedented uncertainty within the global football community.
In a statement released on Friday, the AFC declared its solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF, both of which have voiced strong opposition to FIFA's proposal to open its flagship competitions and decision-making processes to private investment.
On Thursday, UEFA unanimously voted to boycott all FIFA tournaments, while CONCACAF also rejected the proposal, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.
"The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a boycott of the FIFA World Cup has entered public debate should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game," the AFC said. "Football should never have been placed in such a position."
The confederation argued that, given the clear positions taken by UEFA and CONCACAF and the unprecedented divisions within world football, the FFE proposal can no longer realistically achieve the broad consensus and unity required to move forward.
According to the AFC, the FIFA World Cup derives its strength from the participation of all confederations and the world's leading football nations. Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal nature of the tournament, it said, should be reconsidered.
The AFC also called for broader institutional reform within FIFA, stressing that meaningful democracy extends beyond the right to vote. It said effective governance requires transparency, timely consultation, informed deliberation, and genuine participation throughout the decision-making process.
The confederation urged FIFA to conduct an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement, and appropriate oversight by FIFA's statutory bodies.
"The FIFA World Cup and the game itself belong to the entire global football family," the AFC said. "Their future must always be shaped collectively through institutions that reflect the voices of all confederations and member associations."
