FIFA Says 'Nobody Is Selling Football' amid Boycott Threat

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - FIFA pushed back on Friday against a global revolt over its plan to bring private equity into the World Cup, asserting that "nobody is selling football" while blaming media reports for triggering widespread outrage across the sport.

In an official statement covered by ESPN, world soccer's governing body maintained that its planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media coverage. FIFA reaffirmed its commitment to an open and democratic vote among all 211 member associations regarding the creation of a new commercial entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

The organization added that if member associations reject the initiative, commercial operations will remain unchanged and the project will be abandoned entirely.

The defense came as European governing body UEFA staged an unprecedented mutiny following an emergency meeting of its 55 member nations. As reported by The Guardian, UEFA agreed to boycott all FIFA competitions, including future World Cups, unless the private investment plan is scrapped.

"Some things are simply too important to sell," UEFA stated, emphasizing that the World Cup belongs to football and will never be for sale as long as Europe has a voice.

The European boycott threat immediately imperils upcoming events, including the Women's Under-20 World Cup in Poland set to begin on September 5. It also casts uncertainty over the 2035 Women's World Cup, where four British federations represent the sole bidder.

Resistance to the proposal quickly expanded beyond Europe. The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), representing 41 member nations, announced its opposition to the plan.

In a statement cited by ESPN, Concacaf highlighted deep concerns over a lack of due process, tight deadlines, and the absence of governance review, questioning why outside capital is needed following the most profitable World Cup in history.

Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed deep disappointment over being excluded from initial discussions. In a letter to 46 member associations, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa warned that FIFA's unilateral moves threaten the foundations of continental football.

The controversy centers on a project spearheaded by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to spin off commercial operations into the US$20 billion FFE subsidiary, with up to 20 percent sold to private investors. According to ESPN, the investor would be a New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner.

To win over member nations, Infantino offered to double basic four-year funding for each association from US$10 million to US$20 million, with long-term projections reaching US$86 million per member through 2038. Infantino has previously characterized the venture as a voluntary opportunity rather than a mandate.

FIFA countered the mounting pushback by asserting that no single regional body can claim to speak for the entire global membership. The governing body insisted that every national federation must be allowed to review the facts and determine its own financial future through a transparent vote.

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