FIFA has admitted mistakes in the preparation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project and apologised to national football associations. The statement came following a meeting in Rabat.
WHAT THE PROJECT INVOLVED
According to FIFA, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project involved the creation of a separate company that would manage commercial rights and the organisation of tournaments, including World Cups, reports international news agency Reuters.
It was envisaged that the sale of a minority stake to private investors would bring in up to $4.2 billion. These funds were planned to be directed towards the development of football and the financing of 211 national football associations.
WHY THE PROJECT DREW CRITICISM
The project came under criticism from UEFA and other football organisations.
UEFA stated that "the soul of football must not become an asset for sale," and also noted that FIFA had developed the initiative without sufficient consultation with national and regional associations.
Following the protests, the project was scrapped.
WHAT FIFA SAID
Following the meeting in Rabat, the leadership of FIFA acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the preparation of the initiative.
"We acknowledge that mistakes were made in the preparation of the project. The process should have been organised differently, and the FIFA Council and national associations should not have felt excluded from the discussion. Mistakes were also made after information about the project reached the media," the organisation's statement reads.
FIFA also stressed that all actions were carried out within the framework of internal rules.
WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THE MEETING
Meeting participants reaffirmed their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
At the same time, the organisation formally acknowledged shortcomings in the project preparation process and apologised to national football associations.
