The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unanimously endorsed FIFA’s joint apology over the mishandling of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, while re-affirming its unwavering backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino..
The resolution was reached during a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee following a turbulent week for world football’s governing body. On August 6, Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström issued a joint statement admitting that errors were made in how the initiative was presented, offering a formal apology to member associations.
“We acknowledge mistakes were made in the process of the proposed establishment of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (‘FFE’),” FIFA stated, adding that “the proposal which would have been subject to the approval of the FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, is now off the table.”
First unveiled on July 28, the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise was designed as a new commercial subsidiary intended to raise $4.2 billion for grassroots development by selling minority stakes in FIFA’s event operations, including the World Cup.
However, the plan sparked widespread backlash over a lack of consultation with member associations and regional councils, prompting FIFA to pull the initiative and launch an internal review, while maintaining that all prior actions complied with its regulatory framework.
Welcoming the withdrawal and subsequent apology, CAF President Patrice Motsepe said that strict adherence to due process remains fundamental across the continent.
“CAF welcomes and endorses the ‘Joint Update’ by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström,” Motsepe stated, adding that “adherence to governance, due process and transparency is crucial and non-negotiable.”
Despite the commercial misstep, CAF’s leadership maintained a united front behind Infantino, thanking him for his ongoing support of African football and praising FIFA for delivering a highly successful 2026 World Cup.