When news broke that FIFA was scrapping its commercialization plans, there was rampant celebration globally.
Now, though, there is likely to be a fallout from the proposal and its driver, FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Within a statement released by Concacaf, it sure seems like the organization could be making a run at the throne:
Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations welcome the withdrawal of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The Confederation also commends its 41 Member Associations
and the wider football family for the courage and unity they have shown this week. At a moment that demanded principled leadership, our members stood together in defence of football’s long-term interests and the principles of good governance.
That unity has prevailed.
Concacaf would also like to acknowledge and commend the role of the media in bringing this issue out of the shadows and into the light.
The events of recent days have exposed something that cannot now be set aside: the future of the FIFA World Cup, the greatest asset in world football, was advanced outside every established governance framework, without transparency, consultation or due process.
A proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident. It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first. This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour. A comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative.
This concern is not Concacaf’s alone. It is shared across many confederations, Member Associations and those who serve and love the game. When people entrusted with protecting the game conclude they can no longer do so from within, the football family is entitled to ask how such a proposal was allowed to proceed, and who bears responsibility for it.
FIFA is not a private enterprise. It is a body held in trust for the game and its members. Those appointed to serve it carry a fiduciary duty, a duty of service over power. Where that duty is not upheld, accountability cannot be optional.
As mandated by our Member Associations, Concacaf’s FIFA Council members will engage directly, and through the FIFA Council, to ensure that questions of governance, accountability and leadership are addressed properly through the institutions and procedures established under the FIFA Statutes.
They will also work within that same framework to determine how a portion of the vast reserves can be disbursed to our membership via the FIFA Forward funding for football development across our region, without compromising our shared future.
We are all simply custodians, serving a game that belongs to us all.
The unity demonstrated by our Member Associations this week has reaffirmed that when guided by courage, integrity, and sound governance the game will remain where it belongs: in the hands of football – not a single individual.
This could be a wild time for international football.
The verbiage in the statement is pointed and direct. With support from other member organizations, there could be legitimate change on the way.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- New, improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
