The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has publicly expressed disappointment over FIFA’s announcement regarding the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), revealing that Asia’s governing body was not consulted before the initiative was made public.
In a strongly worded statement, the AFC stressed that proposals capable of reshaping the commercial and financial landscape of global football must be built on the foundations of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation with football’s key stakeholders.
The AFC said it had not been given the opportunity to examine or discuss the proposal through the established governance process before FIFA announced the initiative.
The Confederation described the situation as disappointing, particularly given the potential significance of the proposed enterprise for the future of world football.
“The AFC was not consulted on the proposal and is disappointed that a matter of such significance entered the public domain before the AFC family had the opportunity to examine and discuss it through the appropriate governance channels,” the statement said.
While the AFC acknowledged FIFA’s efforts to explore innovative ways to strengthen global football, it emphasised that initiatives of this magnitude require a transparent decision-making process involving all major stakeholders.
According to the AFC, any proposal with long-term commercial and strategic implications should first be thoroughly discussed with the six continental confederations, member associations and other relevant football bodies before being submitted for formal approval.
The Confederation stressed that football’s future must be shaped collectively rather than through unilateral announcements.
The AFC also called for sufficient time and detailed information to allow stakeholders to properly assess the proposal.
It said any review should include a comprehensive examination of the initiative’s Governance structure, Legal framework, Commercial model, and Strategic impact on world football.
The Confederation believes such an approach is essential to ensuring that any future decision genuinely reflects the collective interests of the global football community while reinforcing confidence in FIFA’s governance system.
Despite its concerns, the AFC reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside FIFA and fellow confederations to continue developing football worldwide.
As one of FIFA’s six continental confederations, the AFC reiterated its support for initiatives that promote the long-term growth of the game, provided they are developed through transparent governance, open dialogue and meaningful consultation with all stakeholders.
The statement signals that while Asia remains open to innovation, it expects major structural reforms affecting world football to be discussed collaboratively before any formal decisions are taken.
Credit Photo : AFC
