Uefa's Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf's Victor Montagliani have written to Gianni Infantino requesting Fifa release funds from its $6bn reserves to member associations, proposing a payout of at least $10m each.
Key facts
- Uefa and Concacaf presidents wrote to Fifa president Gianni Infantino requesting funds from Fifa's $6bn reserves.
- They proposed a payout of at least $10m to each of Fifa's 211 member associations.
- The payout was proposed as a one-off during the 2027-2030 commercial cycle.
- The leaders called for an independent review of Fifa's financial position.
- They want the plan considered by the Fifa Council.
The presidents of Uefa and Concacaf have written to Gianni Infantino requesting that Fifa release money from its reserves to its member associations, according to the Guardian. The letter argues that the plan to fund associations via the now-abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme was unnecessary given the cash Fifa is holding.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani proposed a payout of at least $10m to each of Fifa’s 211 member associations. The Guardian reports the payment would initially be a one-off during the 2027-2030 commercial cycle.
Fifa is sitting on reserves of $6bn (£4.5bn), the two leaders noted in making their case. They argued that with such a cash pile in place, the previously proposed transaction to deliver resources to member associations was not necessary.
The pair called for an independent review of Fifa’s financial position. Their own study, the Guardian reports, “raises an important question as to whether the proposed transaction was necessary to deliver greater resources to the MAs”.
The leaders want the plan to be considered by the Fifa Council. The proposal represents a challenge to how Fifa distributes its financial resources to national football bodies.
Why it matters
Fifa's reserves and how they are shared shape the resources available to national football associations, particularly smaller ones that rely on central funding. A direct payout of at least $10m to each of the 211 members, and the call for an independent review, signal tension over how the sport's finances are managed.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does Fifa have in reserves?
According to the Guardian, Fifa is sitting on reserves of $6bn (£4.5bn).
How much would each member association receive under the proposal?
Uefa and Concacaf proposed a payout of at least $10m to each of Fifa's 211 member associations, initially as a one-off during the 2027-2030 commercial cycle.
Who made the request to Fifa?
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani wrote to Fifa president Gianni Infantino.