The Asian Football Confederation said on Friday it was backing UEFA and CONCACAF over serious concerns about FIFA’s proposal to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup.
“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions,” the Kuala Lumpur-based body said in a statement.
“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game,” said the AFC, which represents 47 member nations, including Australia, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia.
FIFA said in a statement that all of its member associations should have a chance to consider the plan.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
It also said it had heard feedback from UEFA and CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North and Central America, which said all 41 of its member associations had rejected FIFA’s proposal to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup.
The world body also said its planned consultation process had been “disrupted by incorrect media reports”.
“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” FIFA’s statement said.
“We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts,” it said.
READ: World Cup must be kept out of private hands: Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso
