Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced its rejection of the proposal being considered by FIFA to establish a new company to manage the commercial rights to its tournaments, stressing that the project in its current form raises many concerns regarding the future of the game and governance mechanisms within FIFA.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) explained in an official statement that it is closely following the latest developments related to the project, expressing its concern about the controversy it has stirred within the football family, especially after the growing talk of a World Cup boycott by some continental federations.
Solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF
The statement affirmed the Asian Football Confederation’s solidarity with the positions of the European Football Association (UEFA) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) regarding the need to reconsider the mechanism for presenting the project, in order to ensure the participation of all concerned parties in its discussion.
The federation indicated that the proposal in its current form does not have the required consensus within the global football system, considering that the true value of the World Cup lies in the participation of all continents, and that any step that may affect the unity of the tournament or its status requires further study and consultation.
Criticism of governance mechanisms within FIFA
He added that the core of the crisis is not related to the project alone, but extends to the governance and decision-making mechanisms within FIFA, explaining that the recent clarifications issued by the international federation did not dispel concerns related to transparency and institutional procedures.
The Asian Football Confederation stressed that initiatives of this magnitude, with commercial, sporting and strategic dimensions, should not be put forward without the involvement of continental and national federations from the earliest stages, emphasizing that the development of global football should be based on transparency, trust and genuine consultation.
The statement emphasized that the World Cup represents a shared legacy for all parties within the football system, and that its future must be determined through a collective consensus that reflects the will of the continental and national federations.
The federation also pointed out that launching major projects after their features have been completed negatively impacts confidence in the governance system within FIFA, explaining that subsequent consultations cannot compensate for the lack of early participation in preparing such initiatives.
Asian demands a review of the project
In closing, the Asian Football Confederation called for leveraging the current crisis to implement institutional reforms that enhance transparency and decision-making mechanisms, demanding a comprehensive review of FIFA’s governance system to ensure the effective participation of all stakeholders in shaping projects with global impact.
