CONMEBOL Welcomes Plan Withdrawal
South American football’s governing body has raised concerns over FIFA‘s recent decision-making. CONMEBOL welcomed the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. But it also issued a warning.
The confederation said concern had been caused by what it described as repeated unilateral actions. The statement was issued after FIFA abandoned its controversial private investment proposal. The plan had triggered opposition from several football bodies.
CONMEBOL said decisions of this scale should be handled through dialogue. It also called for existing institutional channels to be respected.
Infantino Still Has CONMEBOL Backing
The criticism is notable. CONMEBOL has been a supporter of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. It also backed his bid for another term earlier this year. Yet the dispute over the investment plan has tested that relationship.
The proposal had sought to create FIFA Forward Enterprise. Private investors would have been allowed to take minority stakes in the new commercial company.
FIFA had said the plan was designed to give its member associations greater access to football’s commercial opportunities. The proposal was later withdrawn after strong opposition.
UEFA had even maintained a threat to boycott future FIFA competitions if its concerns were not addressed.
Governance Debate Takes Centre Stage
The dispute has now moved beyond finance. Questions about FIFA’s decision-making process have taken centre stage. CONMEBOL said the controversy had shifted attention away from the football itself.
The organisation said it was concerned by actions taken without sufficient dialogue. That criticism has echoed complaints from other confederations.
UEFA and Concacaf had objected to the way the investment plan was presented. The Asian Football Confederation also called for greater consultation on major FIFA decisions. FIFA, for its part, defended the original proposal.
The organisation said its consultation process had been disrupted by what it called inaccurate reports. It also insisted that football was not being sold.
Infantino Faces No Immediate Challenge
Despite its concerns, CONMEBOL has rejected any move to remove Infantino before the next presidential election. The election is scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat. The confederation said FIFA’s existing rules should be followed.
The deadline for presidential nominations is November 18, 2026. The next FIFA president will then be chosen by the organisation’s 211 member associations. The winner will oversee FIFA through the next term. That includes preparations for the 2030 World Cup.
CONMEBOL said it would not support a process that bypassed those established procedures.
Pressure Builds Around FIFA Leadership
The dispute has left FIFA facing growing pressure. Infantino’s leadership has come under scrutiny from several parts of world football. Yet support for him remains.
The FIFA leadership has reaffirmed its backing for the president. The withdrawal of the investment plan has eased one immediate dispute. But concerns about governance remain unresolved. For CONMEBOL, the message is now clear.
Major decisions must be discussed. They must also pass through FIFA’s established institutions.
The next test may come when the presidential election process begins later this year.
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