BD also says no to FIFA’s controversial plan

After Europe and North America, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has also opposed FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s controversial commercial proposal. The confederation, representing 47 member associations across Asia, including Bangladesh, has rejected a plan to transfer the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup to private investors.

In a statement issued on Friday, the AFC said it would not be realistic to achieve the global consensus required to implement such a proposal. It stressed that the World Cup’s greatest strength lies in the collective participation of all football confederations and member associations around the world.

The AFC warned that any initiative that could undermine the tournament’s unity and universal character should be reconsidered.

Earlier, Europe’s governing body, UEFA, and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) had voiced similar objections.

With the AFC now joining them, pressure has mounted significantly on Infantino’s proposal.

Within hours of the AFC’s announcement, FIFA’s longtime senior adviser, resigned from his position. He described the proposal as “mortgaging the future of football” and called it “the wrong deal.”

Under FIFA’s proposal, the sport’s flagship competitions would be managed through a separate commercial entity. The plan would allow minority investment from private firms, including US-based venture capital company . While the proposal, prepared by investment bank , promises greater financial returns for FIFA’s member associations, football’s continental bodies have raised concerns over governance, transparency, and the long-term control of the game.