After facing widespread backlash, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced the withdrawal of the proposed Forward Enterprise Project.
The project, according Infantino, was conceived to boost financial and structural support for FIFA Member Associations, particularly in developing football nations.
However, following resistance and widespread pushback from key stakeholders, the world football governing body has decided to shelve the proposal.
The FIFA president admitted that the initiative has caused damaging divisions within the global football community.
In a statement released, Infantino acknowledged that while the initiative aimed to strengthen the sport globally, its divisive nature ultimately undermined its core purpose.
“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed,” Infantino said.
“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.”
Reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to harmony within the sport, the FIFA chief confirmed that the proposal has been completely scrapped.
“Our purpose has always been—and will always be—to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” he added.
Infantino emphasised his intention to rebuild consensus among member associations, confederations, and wider stakeholders to find alternative ways to support underfunded regions.
“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support,” he said.
