The world’s major soccer confederations once again spoke out against FIFA’s leadership. UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF published an open letter addressed to the “soccer family,” in which they called for unity and transparency following the failed attempt to create a subsidiary to market the World Cup.
The document, signed by Aleksander Ceferin and Theodore Theodoridis on behalf of UEFA; Victor Montagliani and Philippe Moggio on behalf of CONCACAF; and Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Datuk Seri Windsor John on behalf of the AFC, directly questions the way FIFA handled the project.
The three confederations noted that the issue is not related to money, loss of support, or changes to the expansion of competitions. For them, the central issue is “the integrity of soccer and the integrity of those who have been elected to lead it.”
In their letter, UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF maintain that trust has been broken and questioned the role of those responsible for leading world soccer’s governing body.
They also described FIFA’s recent communication to its vice presidents and 211 member associations—in which it explained its plan to sell a stake in the World Cup—as an “error in judgment.”
The confederations believe the proposal was presented with too short a timeframe and without meaningful consultation, and that it was rushed toward a deadline before the federations could adequately analyze its terms.
From their perspective, this situation “is not the result of an oversight,” but rather of a deliberate strategy designed to limit scrutiny. Consequently, they accused FIFA of “betraying” the trust of the institutions it is called upon to serve.
Another point of contention relates to the review of the report to be presented to the FIFA Council. UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF criticized the fact that this process was not conducted by a “fully independent” third party.
The confederations also expressed their opposition to the representation of only one elected official at a recent executive meeting held in Morocco.
According to the letter, a select number of members of the FIFA Management Committee were summoned abroad for that meeting, rather than convening the full committee in Zurich.
For UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF, this incident reinforces the concerns that prompted their stance and represents a continuation of the pattern of behavior they question.
In conclusion, the three confederations called for respect for the unity of soccer and urged their leaders to “serve” the sport rather than seek to “rule” it.
“There is silence where there should be accountability, and distance where there should be transparency,” they noted, emphasizing that their position was adopted jointly and in defense of soccer.
