European football governing body UEFA has rejected plans by world football governing body FIFA to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary for $20 billion.
FIFA had announced plans to establish the subsidiary tagged FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), valued at $20 billion on Tuesday to oversee its commercial and event operations.
FIFA, however said it will retain control over football governance, competitions, the match calendar and sporting regulations under the arrangement.
The proposal, which will be presented to FIFA’s 211 member associations, would allow external investors to acquire minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE.
FIFA aims to raise up to $4.2 billion from the stake sale to expand football development programmes and increase funding for member associations worldwide.
The global football body said a new optional programme would enable associations to access additional development funding and receive up to $20 million in one-off capital.
A FIFA spokesperson said funding per member association would increase from $8 million to $20 million during the 2027-2030 cycle, with further growth targeted for subsequent cycles.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said football’s commercial strength should be used to improve the sport globally.
“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development.
“Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value, and we celebrate that success because it lifts the whole game,” Infantino said.
He added that FIFA’s responsibility was to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth across all regions.
But UEFA urged football stakeholders to reject the proposal, arguing that the governance and identity of the sport should not be commercialised.
UEFA said in a statement: “The proposal crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross.
“UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association, leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.”
UEFA added that football’s governance should not be treated as a tradable asset, questioning the transparency surrounding potential investors.
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.
“None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell,” it said.
The latest disagreement adds to growing tensions between FIFA and UEFA over football governance, disciplinary processes, refereeing arrangements and match operations.
The rift between the two governing bodies has widened in recent years, with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin notably absent from the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. (Reuters/NAN)
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