The call to distribute part of FIFA’s reserves is gaining fresh support within its own leadership. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has joined the initiative launched by Aleksander Ceferin and Victor Montagliani to allocate additional funding to the 211 member associations. The presidents of three confederations, all FIFA vice-presidents, are now aligned on a proposal that places the distribution of resources at the centre of the institutional debate.
Salman has written to Gianni Infantino asking for the issue to be addressed at the FIFA Council meeting on 15 October. His request sets out two options: reach a definitive decision on the distribution of excess reserves or establish a clear timeline and process for review, approval and implementation. Asian support adds a specific demand for deadlines to the initiative spearheaded by Europe and CONCACAF.
An additional $10 million for each association
Ceferin and Montagliani’s proposal calls for at least $10 million for each member association during the 2027–2030 cycle, approximately $2.1 billion in total. This funding would come on top of the amounts already committed through the FIFA Forward Programme and would be allocated to infrastructure and football development. It remains a request awaiting approval, rather than an agreed allocation.
The two officials base their financial argument on their analysis of FIFA’s accounts and budgets. According to their estimates, the organisation would close the 2023–2026 cycle with approximately $6 billion in reserves and could afford the distribution without those reserves falling below around $1.5 billion during the following period. These are the calculations underpinning their argument that there is scope to increase funding for member associations.
From FIFA Forward Enterprise to the distribution of resources
The demand follows the withdrawal of FIFA Forward Enterprise, the project that proposed bringing private investors into a structure linked to FIFA competitions. The connection between the two issues lies in funding: Ceferin and Montagliani maintain that the organisation has sufficient resources of its own to increase support. That argument calls into question the financial necessity of the transaction that was ultimately abandoned.
Meanwhile, Infantino has proposed asking the Council whether to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s procedures for major strategic decisions. He has also proposed consultations with confederations, member associations and other football stakeholders. The proposed review and the request to distribute reserves bring two related debates to the next Council meeting: how decisions are made and how resources are distributed.
Salman’s support adds institutional weight to the initiative, although this alignment on a specific measure does not establish an electoral alliance. The next step lies with the Council on 15 October, which is being asked for a decision or a clear timeline. The withdrawal of FIFA Forward Enterprise has left an open debate over the use of the money FIFA already holds, and an uncertain future for Gianni Infantino, who now faces “enemies” within his own organisation.
Last related articles
