AFC chief welcomes withdrawal of proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, calls for greater consultation
Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 1 Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has welcomed the withdrawal of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, saying future initiatives with the potential to impact global football must be discussed through transparent and meaningful consultation with all stakeholders.
In a statement issued on Friday, Shaikh Salman said decisions affecting the future of the global game should respect football's established governance structures and involve Confederations, FIFA Council members, Member Associations (MAs) and other stakeholders from the outset.
"The future of global football must always be shaped through proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game," said Shaikh Salman.
The AFC President added the continental body remained committed to supporting initiatives that promote unity and contribute to the long-term development of football across the globe.
"The AFC stands ready to support any initiative that strengthens the unity of the football family, contributes to the continued growth of the game globally and delivers meaningful benefits to all stakeholders."
Shaikh Salman also expressed his appreciation to the AFC's Member Associations for their unity during the process and reiterated the Confederation's commitment to act in their interests.
"I am proud that all our MAs stood together and entrusted the AFC to seek answers on their behalf regarding an issue of immense importance to the future governance of world football. I thank them for their patience, solidarity and unity, and assure them that AFC will always act in their best interests," he said.
The AFC's response comes after the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise was withdrawn, with the Confederation stressing that any future proposals capable of reshaping global football should be presented in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner to Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations and other stakeholders before decisions are taken.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Indian football fan, I appreciate this stance. Our ISL has grown so much, but we need proper governance at the global level too. Transparency isn't just a buzzword - it's essential for the sport's future in developing nations like ours.
I'm not fully convinced. FIFA does need to modernize, but sometimes all this "consultation" just means nothing gets decided. The AFC should be careful not to block progress while protecting its own interests. Just saying what many are thinking.
Good move by AFC, but the real test will be if they apply the same standard to their own regional competitions. Indian Super League has shown how consultation with local stakeholders creates better outcomes. Hope world football learns from this. ⚽
The timing is interesting. With the World Cup expanding and more Asian teams playing, we need stable governance. If FIFA kept pushing this without proper dialogue, it would've created rifts in the football family. AFC did the right thing by raising concerns early.
As someone who's followed football governance issues for years, this feels like a small victory for accountability. But we need more than words. Let's see actual frameworks for consultation before any new proposals come up. Actions speak louder than statements, yaar. 🤔
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