European soccer players’ union FIFPRO Europe has called for sweeping reforms to FIFA’s decision‑making structures after the world body withdrew its Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. The union’s new study argues that the abandoned plan would have turned football’s flagship competitions into investable assets for private capital without adequate consultation of clubs, players and leagues.
Why the proposal was rejected
FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveiled the FFE initiative earlier this year, describing it as a way to increase funding for the sport. However, widespread opposition forced the organization to pull the plan. FIFPRO Europe says the governance shortcomings that allowed the proposal to be drafted remain unaddressed, leaving the sport vulnerable to future unilateral moves.
Key findings from the FIFPRO report
The report, produced with Player IQ and Football Benchmark, states that FFE was an attempt to convert the game’s core competitions into an “investable, tradeable and undervalued financial asset for private capital.” It also highlights that European clubs employed 856 players at the expanded 2026 World Cup and released players worth about €16.9 billion, representing 94 % of the tournament’s total player value. All 20 individual award winners from the last five World Cups were employed by European clubs, underscoring Europe’s dominant role in the sport.
Another concern raised is the shrinking share of World Cup revenue allocated as prize money to participating nations. The report notes that this share fell to roughly 7.7 % in 2026, down from 10.5 % in 2006, even as overall tournament revenue grew sharply. Players receive only a fraction of the return, while federations rely on the prize pool as their sole performance‑based income stream.
Calls for a more inclusive governance model
FIFPRO Europe urges that any future effort to increase solidarity funding be built through trusted governance and joint stakeholder involvement, rather than being advanced unilaterally by a single office. The union also recommends formally including players, clubs and leagues in football governance alongside national associations, and calls for an independent review of FIFA Council executive decision‑making to prevent similar proposals from resurfacing.
In related court filings, FIFA has argued that opposition to its proposals is driven by attempts to preserve Europe’s dominant position in the sport. The union counters that a balanced governance structure is essential to protect football’s “critical infrastructure” and ensure that the sport remains accountable to those who create it.
What this means for the global game
While the FFE proposal is no longer on the table, the underlying issues highlighted by FIFPRO Europe remain. The union’s findings suggest that without structural reforms, FIFA could continue to pursue initiatives that prioritize private capital over the interests of players, clubs and fans. The call for an independent review and broader stakeholder participation aims to safeguard the sport’s integrity and ensure that future revenue growth benefits the entire football community.
Reuters has reached out to FIFA for comment on the union’s findings.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
