Archive · 16 Sep 2026
FIFA Review Of Withdrawn Investment Plan To Reach Council
FIFA once proposed selling part of the business connected to its tournaments to outside investors.
The proposal was later withdrawn.
FIFA now says an official review of the plan will be shown to its Council.
Jesper Moller of Denmark criticized FIFA for not answering important questions about the proposal.
Several football groups opposed the plan and called for changes to FIFA’s leadership.
Some European football associations have also withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election.
Other reports say Infantino still has enough support to win another term.
He will seek a fourth term at an election in Rabat on March 18, 2027.
His opponents may now focus on reducing the president’s powers.
FIFA said a review of its withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal will be presented to the FIFA Council.
Denmark’s football chief Jesper Moller criticized FIFA for not answering questions about the abandoned project.
The proposal sought to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA events to outside investors.
The plan prompted backlash from UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF, along with calls for changes to FIFA’s leadership.
Gianni Infantino is seeking a fourth term in the March 18, 2027, presidential election, though opponents are discussing ways to limit his powers.
- Who
- FIFA, President Gianni Infantino, Denmark football chief Jesper Moller, and football confederations including UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF.
- What
- FIFA said a review of its withdrawn FIFA Forward Enterprise investment proposal will be presented to the FIFA Council.
- When
- FIFA made the statement on Thursday; the presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027.
- Where
- The election is scheduled to take place in Rabat.
- Why
- The review follows criticism over the abandoned proposal and questions about FIFA’s handling of it.
FIFA’s Review Position
Critics’ Accountability Position
Handling of the withdrawn proposal
FIFA’s Review Position
FIFA says its standing committees advise the FIFA Council and that a review of the withdrawn proposal will be presented to the Council.
Critics’ Accountability Position
Jesper Moller criticized FIFA for declining to answer what he called critical questions about the scrapped project at a Legal Committee meeting.
FIFA leadership
FIFA’s Review Position
Sources cited by Reuters said Infantino retains sufficient backing to secure another term as president.
Critics’ Accountability Position
UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF called for changes to FIFA’s leadership structure, while some European associations withdrew support for Infantino’s re-election.
Opposition strategy
FIFA’s Review Position
Infantino’s continued support could allow him to pursue a fourth term in 2027.
Critics’ Accountability Position
Opponents may shift their focus from preventing re-election to curbing the president’s powers.
- Proposal
- FIFA Forward Enterprise, a withdrawn plan to sell commercial stakes in FIFA tournaments to outside investors.
- Planned stake
- The proposal involved selling a 20% stake in the World Cup and other FIFA events.
- Review destination
- The review will be presented to the FIFA Council.
- FIFA Council
- The Council has 37 members: the president, eight vice-presidents and 28 members elected by FIFA member associations.
- Election date
- March 18, 2027.
- Election location
- Rabat.
- Infantino’s candidacy
- Gianni Infantino is seeking a fourth term as FIFA president.