Real Madrid have thrown their full support behind UEFA following FIFA’s decision to abandon its controversial proposal to sell a minority stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
The Spanish giants described the outcome as a major victory for football, applauding UEFA and several football confederations for standing united against a plan that had triggered one of the biggest governance disputes in recent football history.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had hoped to launch FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial entity designed to manage the business operations of FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.
The proposal included selling a 20 percent stake to private investors, a move that immediately attracted fierce opposition across the football world.
Following sustained resistance from UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), FIFA officially withdrew the proposal, marking a significant setback for Infantino’s administration.
In a strongly worded statement, Real Madrid praised FIFA for stepping away from the proposal while also acknowledging the organizations that fought to protect football’s traditional governance.
“Real Madrid values very positively the decision taken by FIFA to abandon the proposal to partially sell the commercial rights of its competitions,” read the club’s statement.
The reigning European powerhouse believes the outcome benefits every level of the game.
“Our club considers that it is good news for football, for its institutions and, above all, for the millions of fans of our beloved sport.”
Madrid also reserved special praise for UEFA and the confederations that opposed the proposal from the outset.
“Real Madrid would like to express its gratitude to UEFA, the confederations and federations, and all the institutions that firmly and responsibly opposed this project. Their unity and sense of duty have protected football at a decisive moment.”
UEFA played a central role throughout the controversy, openly rejecting the proposal and warning FIFA that European football could boycott FIFA competitions if the commercial restructuring went ahead.
The European governing body later declared that Infantino had “lost the confidence” of UEFA, intensifying pressure on FIFA’s leadership.
Reports also suggest UEFA is exploring further governance measures, including the possibility of initiating a no-confidence vote against the FIFA president—a move that would require support from at least 43 FIFA member associations.
That firm stance, combined with opposition from Concacaf and the AFC, ultimately left FIFA with little choice but to abandon the project.
Real Madrid’s statement also stressed the critical role clubs play in sustaining international football.
According to the club, national teams and global tournaments depend entirely on the work carried out by clubs throughout the football pyramid.
“Clubs are the foundation on which national team football and the World Cup are built,” the statement continued.
“It is these who discover, train, develop and put at the service of the national teams the players who make these great competitions possible.”
The club argued that football’s biggest competitions carry cultural and sporting significance far beyond their commercial value.
“National team football and the World Cup are, above all, events of public interest, and they make up a heritage that belongs to nations, fans and society as a whole.”
Real Madrid concluded by rejecting the idea that football’s most prestigious tournaments should become investment assets.
“For this reason, we believe that they should never be treated as simple financial assets intended to be marketed for the benefit of a few.”
The collapse of FIFA’s investment proposal has become one of the defining governance moments of recent years.
Beyond the opposition from football confederations, the controversy also prompted the resignation of FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who labelled the proposal “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”
Meanwhile, FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour admitted the organisation had been “deceived” over aspects of the project.
For Real Madrid, the outcome represents far more than the defeat of a commercial proposal.It is a reaffirmation that football’s greatest competitions belong to supporters, clubs and nations—not private investors.
With FIFA now facing renewed scrutiny over its governance and leadership, the debate surrounding transparency, accountability and the future direction of world football is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
