UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned that world football trust is still bruised after FIFA abandoned a controversial idea to make use of private investors, urging more transparency, unity and accountability in football.
In the video message to the Portugal Football Summit on Wednesday, Ceferin said that the football governing bodies needed to be “serving the game and not the interests of a few people.” Ceferin said that trust in our sport is built on three foundations: unity, transparency and governance for the many, not the few.
His remarks followed the dropping of a proposal by FIFA to sell a 20% share in the commercial rights, which would have included those associated with the World Cup, to private investors. It was opposed strongly by UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF prior to being shelved in July. Ceferin didn’t mention FIFA president Gianni Infantino by name, but his comments seemed a response to the row over the proposal.
Etienne was reiterating UEFA’s traditional stance on the commercial and governance aspects of football, with Ceferin stating: “Football is not for sale.” The UEFA president was addressing a UEFA press release after Infantino sent a letter to FIFA Council and presidents of the 211 member associations of the organisation. Infantino suggested that FIFA should look at an external review of its governance structure for key issues in major strategic decisions.
The suggestions for consideration in the proposed review may cover the role of the FIFA president, the FIFA Bureau and the FIFA Council and Congress, as well as what is needed to improve transparency and accountability. The consultations with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders were also suggested by Infantino.
The transfer has yet to ease concerns of multiple football federations, who had previously criticized the investment plan. Infantino has stayed loyal to FIFA, and is set to run for re-election in the organisation’s upcoming presidential race in March 2027. Football’s future, however, will depend on those in charge of football remembering that their duty is to the sport and those around them,” Ceferin added.
