FIFA drops proposed $20bn commercial venture after opposition derails private investment plan

FIFA has abandoned plans to create a $20bn commercial entity and sell a 20% stake to private investors after facing widespread opposition from football governing bodies and member associations, according to a report by the Financial Times.

privateequitywire.co.uk ·11d ago

FIFA has withdrawn its plans to establish a $20 billion commercial venture and offer a 20% stake to private investors, following widespread opposition, according to the Financial Times. The initiative, called FIFA Forward Enterprise, would have transferred FIFA's commercial rights to a new company. The investor group, led by Thrive Eternal, aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the plan would not proceed, stating that the divisions created by the proposal outweighed its intended benefits. The withdrawal follows strong resistance from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and other regional governing bodies, who criticized the transaction's structure and development process.

UEFA welcomed the decision but expressed concerns over FIFA's leadership, while the AFC called for greater transparency in future strategic initiatives. The abandoned plan would have been one of the largest private capital investments in global sports, reflecting growing investor interest in sports rights and commercial assets.

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