Politics
Pinnick Backs Infantino’s FFE Proposal as AFC Joins UEFA And CONCACAF In Opposition – THISAGE
By Ayo Kehinde
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has thrown his support for FIFA’s proposal to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) continues to divide the football world, just as Asian Football Association, AFC, joined the growing ranks of federations opposed to the proposal.
While AFC, UEFA and CONCACAF have rejected the proposal due to governance concerns, Pinnick, in an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, argued that the initiative could transform football development, especially across Africa.
Pinnick now ‘life president’ of NFF dismissed suggestions that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had acted improperly by introducing the FFE proposal.
According to him, every leader has the responsibility to present ideas they believe will benefit their organisation, while members retain the right to either approve or reject them.
He urged critics not to label every major policy proposal as a controversy, insisting that debate and voting are part of good governance.
One of Pinnick’s strongest arguments centred on the financial benefits for FIFA’s 211 member associations.
Under the proposed FFE model, FIFA would sell a minority stake in a new commercial entity valued at around $20 billion, with proceeds expected to strengthen football development worldwide.
Pinnick said associations such as Nigeria, Ghana, Niger and South Africa could each receive about $20 million, describing the federations themselves as the biggest beneficiaries of the initiative.
Drawing from his experience as NFF president, Pinnick recalled the financial difficulties many African football associations face.
He revealed that there were occasions when he personally supported smaller football nations to help them fulfil international fixtures, highlighting the funding challenges across the continent.
According to him, combining an estimated $20 million from the proposed FFE with existing support from FIFA’s Forward Programme could provide around $40 million for each association.
Such funding, he argued, would significantly reduce reliance on government allocations and allow federations to operate more independently.
Pinnick said his confidence in the proposal stems from his experience working with Infantino over the years.
He recalled initially doubting promises made during Infantino’s campaign for the FIFA presidency, particularly when the Swiss administrator pledged to increase funding for member associations.
However, Pinnick said those commitments were eventually fulfilled, with FIFA substantially increasing financial support to national associations after Infantino assumed office.
For him, that track record provides reason to believe the latest proposal could also deliver meaningful results.
While backing the initiative, Pinnick acknowledged that proper oversight would be essential.
He argued that the real concern should not be whether FIFA attracts private investment, but whether the resulting funds are managed transparently and distributed responsibly.
According to him, strong governance, effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms will determine whether the programme achieves its intended goals.
Pinnick’s comments offer a sharply different perspective from the opposition voiced by UEFA and CONCACAF.
Rather than viewing the FFE proposal as a threat to football’s future, he believes it represents a rare opportunity for African federations to secure long-term financial stability.
If implemented as proposed, the additional funding could help national associations improve infrastructure, organise more international matches, strengthen youth development programmes and reduce dependence on inconsistent government funding.
Whether FIFA’s proposal ultimately succeeds remains uncertain, but Pinnick’s intervention has added an influential African voice to one of the biggest governance debates currently shaping world football.
AFC decision to join UEFA and CONCACAF has significantly weakenef Infantino’s chances of getting the proposal approved by FIFA’s member associations. Infantino had indicated the plan would require a straight majority to pass, meaning 106 of FIFA’s 211 members would need to vote in favour.
With UEFA controlling 55 votes, CONCACAF 35, and the AFC 46, a combined bloc vote from all three confederations would put 136 nations against the proposal, well above the threshold needed to block it, even without factoring in positions from CAF or CONMEBOL.
Beyond the numbers, the AFC’s statement raised deeper concerns about how FIFA arrived at the proposal in the first place. The confederation accused FIFA of once again setting the “direction of travel” on a major initiative without first consulting its stakeholders, saying the episode had exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed.
The AFC also said the lack of consultation had left confederations, member associations, and even FIFA’s own governing bodies, including the FIFA Council, feeling sidelined.
“The FIFA World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family”, the statement continued. “Their future must always be shaped collectively, through institutions that reflect the voices of all Confederations and member associations.”
The confederation called on FIFA to carry out an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement, and appropriate oversight by FIFA’s statutory bodies.
The growing resistance from three major confederations puts Infantino under mounting pressure over a plan he has defended as a means of unlocking new revenue for football’s development. It also comes at a time when the proposal has found some support within Africa’s football family, with former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick backing the plan on Arise Television, arguing that member associations, including Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, stand to benefit from an additional $20 million each under the arrangement.
Whether that support holds as more confederations weigh in could prove decisive for how far Infantino’s ambitions are able to travel.
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