The Confederation of African Football said it will assess FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plans to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Other confederations have criticised the proposals. Infantino offered member associations $40m to back the scheme by September 19.
FIFA confirmed the plans on Tuesday to create a company called FIFA Forward Enterprise that would oversee the men's and women's World Cup and Club World Cup. Private investors would take 20 to 30 per cent of the company, with Joshua Kushner named as the proposed lead investor. FIFA would retain majority ownership while the 211 member associations would each receive a small stake.
Infantino wrote to the associations offering them $40m if they support the plan, with £20m available from January 1 next year. He set a deadline of September 19 for acceptance. He is expected to be re-elected unopposed until 2031 and could later serve as commissioner of the new company for a salary similar to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's $64m annual pay.
UEFA said the proposals cross a line that football's governing institutions should never cross and noted growing opposition. CONCACAF and the AFC expressed concern over the lack of due process and consultation. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter told Reuters that FIFA would lose its soul if the plans went ahead.
The Confederation of African Football issued a statement saying it received the FIFA correspondence and will host an executive committee meeting next week to assess and evaluate the initiative. It encouraged member associations to examine the proposal through established procedures.
