Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has branded FIFA’s plan to create a $20 billion commercial subsidiary and sell stakes to private investors as totally unacceptable, citing a complete lack of consultation and warning that the unilateral move threatens the sport’s continental structure.
AFC Rejects Unilateral FIFA Structure as Backlash Grows Across Global Football
Football’s global governing body faces an escalating rebellion from its own regional confederations following an aggressive push to restructure its flagship tournament. FIFA announced plans to establish a $20 billion commercial subsidiary designed to run the and other major events, offering up to 20 percent of its shares to external private investors. Among those financiers is the Thrive Eternal investment vehicle owned by Joshua Kushner, the brother-in-law of United States President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
The announcement immediately triggered fierce pushback from regional leaders who learned of the massive financial overhaul through public reports rather than internal channels. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa sent an unusually forthright letter to the regional body’s 47 member associations, calling the lack of dialogue totally unacceptable
according to correspondence reviewed by Reuters.
“The AFC notes with great concern and disappointment that it was not consulted by FIFA at any level prior to the public announcement of this proposal. And nor has it received any detailed governance, financial or legal analysis of the proposal and its potential repercussions, which is totally unacceptable.”
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, FIFA Senior Vice President and AFC President
Based in Kuala Lumpur, the AFC administers competitions across continental Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Sheikh Salman warned that FIFA’s unilateral strategy actively undermines the foundational principles of continental football, which rely heavily on solidarity, cooperation, and transparency. He insisted the overhaul cannot succeed without unanimous support across all regional confederations.
Tight Timelines and High-Stakes Financial Payouts Spark Urgency
The standoff intensified as details emerged regarding FIFA’s aggressive timeline for member approval. FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent a letter to all 211 national football associations outlining financial incentives tied to a strict September 19 deadline. Under the proposal, associations that agree to the deal by the cut-off date are promised an initial $20m (£15m) payout as part of a broader $40m (£30m) package. Federations that reject the initiative will instead face having the offer withdrawn.
BBC Sport reported that FIFA aims to secure investor commitment letters, finalize long-form agreements, and execute capital transfers by the end of October. August will grant prospective investors access to term sheets and select materials, while September requires them to formally indicate investment amounts and confirm terms.
Sheikh Salman criticized the compressed schedule, telling AFC members that such consequential structural decisions should never be rushed. He formally requested that all 47 member associations withhold their positions until the regional body completes its review and holds further consultations with FIFA leadership.
UEFA, Leagues, and Former Leadership Unite in Opposition
The AFC’s resistance aligns with strong opposition from European football’s governing body and professional leagues worldwide. UEFA convened an emergency virtual meeting to coordinate its defense, noting that FIFA’s financial ultimatums reveal the true nature of the project.
“We have learned of Fifa’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.”
UEFA, via official statement
That statement followed an earlier UEFA declaration asserting that FIFA had crossed a line
by putting the sport up for sale. Prominent figures within English football joined the chorus of disapproval. David Bernstein, former chairman of both the Football Association and Manchester City, suggested that England should withdraw from the World Cup if Infantino’s commercialization plans proceed.
Simultaneously, the World Leagues Association—chaired by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters—demanded that FIFA immediately withdraw the project. The organization argued that creating a profit-driven subsidiary highlights an irreconcilable conflict of interest between FIFA’s regulatory duties and its commercial ambitions.
“While around 1% of the world’s professional players participate in the World Cup, the other 130,000 professional footballers and all their clubs stop competing as national league competitions come to a halt.”
The World Leagues Association
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter added his voice to the growing opposition, slamming the $20 billion subsidiary proposal in an interview with Reuters. Blatter, who led the governing body for 17 years until 2015, argued that the tournament serves as cultural heritage rather than corporate property.
Sepp Blatter, former FIFA President, stated that transferring FIFA into a profit-oriented corporate structure would cause it to lose its soul, and that the FIFA World Cup is not a commercial asset belonging to a handful of executives.
While the overwhelming majority of federations express alarm, isolated voices have signaled potential pragmatic alignment. Czech FA president David Trunda noted that his organization could see pragmatic benefits for Czech football within the proposals.
What Lies Ahead for the September 19 Deadline
National associations across all six confederations face a high-stakes choice as the September 19 decision window approaches. A straight majority vote among the 211 member associations will ultimately determine whether FIFA proceeds with the private equity sell-off. With regional powerhouses in Europe, Asia, and North America expressing deep institutional distrust, the outcome will test Gianni Infantino’s ability to retain global consensus before investment funds change hands in late October.
