KUALA LUMPUR — The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has called on Fifa to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework following concerns surrounding the proposed establishment of Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).

The AFC said the issue extends beyond a single proposal, adding that it had exposed fundamental weaknesses in Fifa’s consultation and decision-making processes.

“Accordingly, the AFC calls upon Fifa to undertake 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 association said in a statement today.

Last Tuesday, Fifa announced the proposal to establish FFE to manage major tournaments such as the Fifa World Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.

Under the plan, private investors would be allowed to hold minority stakes in the company, with Fifa targeting proceeds of up to US$4.2 billion (about RM19.4 billion) based on a company valuation of US$20 billion (RM92.4 billion).

If approved, each of Fifa’s 211 member associations would receive a one-off payment of US$20 million (RM92.4 million) in early 2027, while development funding for the 2027-2030 cycle would increase from US$8 million to US$20 million.

The AFC said while every Fifa Member Association (MA) must have the opportunity to consider and determine proposals affecting the future of world football, meaningful democracy is not measured solely by the opportunity to vote.