CAF Asks Members to Scrutinise FIFA’s World Cup Sell-off Plan 

CAF Asks Members to Scrutinise FIFA’s World Cup Sell-off Plan

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has told its members association to e scrutinise FIFA’s plan to sell World Cup operations to private investors.

In a statement on Wednesday, the African football governing body said Patrice Motsepe, the confederation’s president, will be hosting a meeting with the CAF executive committee next week to evaluate the FIFA proposal.

The confederation added that its members association can “participate in the consultation process in accordance with CAF and FIFA’s regulations and established procedures”.

Earlier this week, FIFA announced its plans to to set up FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative (FFE), a commercial subsidiary to run events, including the World Cup.

The world football governing body said it will retain the major shares of the semi-private subsidiary but will raise $4.2 billion later this year by “carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests”.

The Times, the British newspaper, reported that Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, stood to profit from the scheme by becoming commissioner of the FFE after his expected next term expires in 2031.

The newspaper also added that the potential investors are Joshua Kushner, the brother-in-law of Ivanka, US President Donald Trump’s daughter, as well as an arm of JP Morgan Chase, the US bank that attempted to finance the failed breakaway European Super League.

The move from FIFA has continued to generate global backlash from football stakeholders and fans, in general.

UEFA said the World Cup was not an “asset to trade” while Glenn Micallef, European Union’s sports chief, told FIFA to “hands off our game.”

Other confederations in South America, North America and Asia have also released statements on the issue, stating that they were not consulted by FIFA on the plan.

However, CAF said consultation is “currently underway with FIFA member associations and the FIFA Council” concerning the proposal.

The confederation added it is committed “to continue consulting and working together with its Member Associations, FIFA, other Football Confederations and stakeholders in support of increasing financial and other resources for the development and growth of football in Africa and worldwide”.

FIFA had told member associations they will each receive $40 million should they back a plan to sell stakes in major competitions. The leaked memo from FIFA however issued a deadline of September 19 for associations to sign up if they hope to benefit from the windfall.