OFFICIAL: AFC President issues ultimatum over FIFA's $20 billion plan

President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa affirmed that FIFA acted unilaterally and lacked transparency when proposing to sell commercial shares of the World Cup to private investors.

After UEFA, FIFA's plan to commercialize its tournaments is facing strong reactions from Asian football. In a letter sent to the 47 member associations of the AFC on July 30, President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa publicly criticized FIFA for not conducting consultations before announcing the new proposal.

Earlier, FIFA said it planned to establish a commercial subsidiary valued at around $20 billion. The new unit would be responsible for exploiting the World Cup and other tournaments organized by FIFA, and could sell shares to private investors. The announcement was made without prior consultation with the continental confederations, causing dissatisfaction among the AFC and many regional organizations.

“This is completely unacceptable. The AFC is particularly concerned and disappointed that it was not consulted by FIFA at any level before this proposal was publicly announced,”, wrote Mr. Sheikh Salman.

According to Mr. Sheikh Salman, FIFA's unilateral action risks undermining the foundation of the continental football system, which was built on solidarity, cooperation, and transparency.

The AFC president also demanded that FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan be thoroughly reviewed through appropriate legal and governance procedures, rather than being pushed forward in a short time.

According to the content FIFA sent to its 211 member associations, each association could receive $40 million if they approve the proposal by September 19. However, the AFC believes this deadline is too tight for a decision of such scale and impact.

“The AFC is surprised that a proposal of such great influence is only given an extremely limited time for consideration. FIFA needs to provide full information, clarify governance, financial, and legal issues, and allow sufficient time for the consultation process. Such decisions cannot be rushed,” emphasized the AFC President.

The head of Asian football asked the 47 member associations not to make a decision until the AFC completes its exchange with FIFA and conducts necessary evaluations.

“The AFC recommends that member associations wait for the results of consultations and the review process before taking any position on the proposal,”, declared Sheikh Salman.

Despite issuing strong criticism, the AFC President affirmed that the organization remains ready to work with FIFA and relevant parties to protect the common interests of football, while ensuring that the development of the sport is built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and solidarity.