AFC president doubles down on FIFA, calling World Cup plan ‘unacceptable’
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has criticized FIFA's plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, calling the lack of consultation 'totally unacceptable' and warning the proposal undermines continental football structures. He has urged member associations to delay decisions pending further discussions.
The Asian Football Confederation has formally objected to FIFA's recently announced proposal to establish a $20 billion commercial subsidiary for managing the World Cup and related events. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa issued a strongly worded letter to the confederation's 47 member associations expressing serious concerns about the initiative's governance and implementation process.
Sheikh Salman emphasized that the AFC received no advance consultation regarding the proposal before FIFA's public announcement on Tuesday. The confederation has not been provided with detailed analysis concerning governance structures, financial implications, or potential consequences of the plan. The AFC president characterized this lack of engagement as "totally unacceptable" and expressed deep concern that FIFA's unilateral approach undermines foundational principles of continental football cooperation, including solidarity, transparency, and mutual consultation.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has offered financial incentives to encourage adoption of the proposal, indicating that individual football associations would receive $40 million each if they approved the plan by September 19. However, Sheikh Salman criticized the compressed timeline for such a consequential decision, arguing that matters of this significance should not be rushed through expedited approval processes.
The AFC president asserted that the proposal cannot succeed without support from all six FIFA confederations and called for thorough examination through appropriate legal and governance channels. He requested that AFC member associations refrain from making individual decisions until the confederation completes its consultations with FIFA and conducts necessary review procedures. Sheikh Salman reaffirmed the AFC's commitment to constructive engagement with FIFA and stakeholders while emphasizing the importance of building continued football development on foundations of trust, transparency, and unity.
Bell tracks these organizations in depth — profiles, people, signals, and history. See them inside Bell →
Target the right Qatari accounts at the right time.