Infantino Strong-Arming Members Into Approving His $20 Billion Company by September 19

Blindsided member associations that were not consulted must decide by September 19 whether to support FIFA Forward Enterprise, and unlock funding worth millions for each of them.

On July 19, Debbie Hewitt watched the World Cup final alongside Gianni Infantino.

The chair of the English Football Association is also one of FIFA’s eight vice-presidents. Yet, according to the FA, she and her organisation were “completely unaware” that Infantino was preparing to place FIFA’s commercial future inside a new $20 billion company and sell part of it to private investors.

Nine days after the final, FIFA publicly announced FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE. One day later, The Times revealed that the 211 associations which must support the plan have until September 19 to decide.

That gives them 53 days to consider a company that would combine FIFA’s broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing businesses with the operational delivery of its men’s, women’s and youth tournaments.

I broke down the numbers behind this worrying proposal for the Sports and Crime Briefing yesterday (and incidentally wrote the 2nd most-read article in the history of the newsletter!)

No asset list, independent valuation, shareholder agreement or detailed governance structure has been published. FIFA has not explained whether FFE would own its commercial rights or license them, how long the arrangement would last, what rights investors would receive or how they could sell their interests.

But yet, members have 53 days and counting to approve.

An Artificially Close Deadline

Infantino’s letter tells the associations that “the decision on whether or not to proceed with this proposal belongs entirely to you”.

Does it really?