The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced its opposition to FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors, aligning with similar stances from UEFA and CONCACAF.
In a statement released Friday, the AFC declared it "stands in solidarity" with the European and North American confederations. The AFC stated that FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan could not "realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward." The confederation emphasized that the FIFA World Cup's strength comes from the participation of all confederations and leading football nations, and any proposal that risks undermining its universal character must be reconsidered.
The AFC's opposition significantly diminishes the likelihood of Infantino's plans gaining approval if put to a vote among FIFA members.
The confederation also accused FIFA of setting the direction for major initiatives without consulting stakeholders, highlighting what it described as "fundamental weaknesses in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes." The AFC believes FIFA's failure to engage its member associations has left confederations, member associations, and even FIFA's own governing bodies, including the FIFA Council, feeling sidelined.
Consequently, the AFC is calling for an urgent review of FIFA's governance and decision-making framework. The aim is to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement, and appropriate oversight by FIFA's statutory bodies.