Three football confederations challenge FIFA leadership
GENEVA: Three major football confederations have publicly criticised FIFA leadership, accusing it of a serious failure in decision-making and a breach of trust over an attempt to sell a share of World Cup commercial rights.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), European football’s governing body UEFA, and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) issued a joint open letter expressing strong reservations over the proposal.
The letter was signed by AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, and the three confederations’ general secretaries.
The confederations said the dispute was not about money but about football’s integrity and the responsibility of those entrusted with leading the sport.
They said football leadership was a responsibility granted by the global football community and not the personal property of any individual.
The three bodies criticised FIFA’s handling of the proposal to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights, saying it was pushed forward within a limited timeframe without meaningful consultation with member associations.
They argued that FIFA had described the issue as a failure of communication, while they viewed it as a failure of governance and decision-making.
The confederations said FIFA failed to acknowledge that the proposal itself was fundamentally flawed and called the move a serious breach of trust with football stakeholders.
They also objected to FIFA’s plan for an internal review, demanding a fully independent investigation by an external third party. The confederations said FIFA officials, staff members or football stakeholders involved in the matter should not play any role in the inquiry.
The letter called for the preservation of all relevant documents and records related to the proposal.
The AFC, UEFA and CONCACAF also raised concerns over a recent FIFA meeting in Morocco, claiming that only one elected official attended while FIFA Council members and member associations were not invited.
They said the selection of only certain management committee members for an overseas meeting added to concerns surrounding the decision-making process.
The confederations clarified that their objections were not against financial growth or previous collective decisions made by football authorities, including World Cup expansions and funding programmes for member nations.
They said the development of football over the past decade was the result of collective efforts by FIFA, confederations, member associations and thousands of people involved in the sport.
The three organisations stressed that FIFA’s financial resources should be used responsibly for the development of member countries but said the current dispute was about transparency, accountability and leadership standards.
They concluded by calling for unity in football, saying leadership should serve the sport rather than seek to control it.