Sports PH News | JS DEV Site

Tag: Gianni Infantino

  • PFF supports Gianni Infantino despite backlash to sell FIFA events to private investors

    PFF supports Gianni Infantino despite backlash to sell FIFA events to private investors

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino has come under intense scrutiny after proposing a major restructuring plan that would have allowed private investors to acquire minority stakes in FIFA’s commercial and event operations, including those tied to the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup.

     

    The proposal, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was presented to FIFA’s 211 member associations as part of a broader strategy to generate additional revenue for football development worldwide. Under the plan, FIFA would retain majority ownership of the new enterprise while opening a minority stake to external investors.

     

    Infantino argued that the initiative would significantly increase FIFA’s commercial income, enabling the organization to triple the financial support distributed to its member associations. The additional funding, according to FIFA, would be used to strengthen football development programs, improve infrastructure, expand grassroots initiatives, enhance coaching education, and support the overall growth of the sport, particularly in emerging football nations.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

     

    Get the latest sports updates faster. Join the official Sports PH News Discord community today! https://discord.gg/defTe7KeT

     

    Despite those promises, the proposal was met with strong resistance from several of football’s most influential governing bodies.

     

    The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) led the opposition, raising concerns over the commercialization of FIFA’s flagship competitions and the long-term implications of bringing private investors into the governing body’s business operations.

     

    UEFA reportedly warned that it would consider boycotting future FIFA World Cup tournaments should the proposal move forward, a stance that quickly gained support from other continental confederations.

    Opposition to the plan intensified after the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA in rejecting the proposal. Faced with mounting resistance from several of its largest confederations, FIFA ultimately withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.

     

    While most football governing bodies welcomed the decision to scrap the initiative, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) took a different position.

     

    In an official statement, the PFF expressed support for the original objectives behind the proposal, emphasizing the importance of increased financial and technical assistance for developing football nations such as the Philippines.

     

    “The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) believes developing football nations need stronger financial and technical support, and we welcome any serious effort to provide it. We respect the views of UEFA, CONCACAF, the AFC, and fellow Member Associations that proposals of significant structural and financial impact—such as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)—must be discussed openly and democratically. Broad consultation across all confederations and Member Associations protects transparency and helps everyone reach a shared, well-informed decision,” the federation said.

     

    Although acknowledging that FIFA had withdrawn the proposal, the PFF reiterated its support for Infantino’s broader vision of expanding financial assistance across FIFA’s global membership.

     

    “Although FIFA has withdrawn the FFE proposal, PFF continues to support the goal behind it, championed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino: expanding commercial and financial assistance to all 211 Member Associations, especially smaller markets like the Philippines. We stand behind President Gianni Infantino’s leadership, and trust that continued dialogue among all confederations and Member Associations will keep the global game moving forward together,” the statement added.

     

    The Philippines was among only a handful of national federations to publicly back Infantino’s position. Within Southeast Asia, the Football Association of Indonesia also expressed support for the proposal, highlighting the differing perspectives between developing football nations seeking greater investment and established football powers concerned about the governance and commercialization of the global game.

     

    The debate surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal has underscored the growing divide within world football over how the sport should be financed and governed. While the proposal has been shelved for now, discussions surrounding increased investment, financial sustainability, and support for developing member associations are expected to remain key issues within FIFA in the years ahead.

     

     

    👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

    📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports PH News today and join the community of passionate sports fans. 

  • PFF pays tribute to Gianni Infantino on 10th year as FIFA president

    PFF pays tribute to Gianni Infantino on 10th year as FIFA president

    The Philippine Football Federation (PFF), led by president John Anthony Gutierrez and FIFA Council Member and former PFF president Mariano V. Araneta, paid tribute to Gianni Infantino as he marks his 10th anniversary as president of FIFA, lauding what they described as a transformative decade for global football and for the Philippines in particular.

     

    Over the past several years, Philippine football has experienced significant progress, both on and off the pitch. Federation officials credit much of that momentum to FIFA’s expanded development programs under Infantino’s leadership — initiatives that have provided funding, infrastructure support, and governance reforms aimed at elevating emerging football nations.

     

    The Philippines’ growing stature in international football has been underscored by its increasing role as a host of global competitions. The most notable milestone came when FIFA awarded the hosting rights of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup to the country in 2025. The decision signaled strong confidence in the Philippines’ organizational capability and its potential to help drive the sport’s expansion across Southeast Asia.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

     

    “President Infantino’s trust in our nation to host the first-ever Women’s Futsal World Cup was a watershed moment for us. It proved that FIFA views the Philippines as a leader capable of organizing world-class events. His generous assistance throughout the hosting process underscored a deep belief in the capability of Filipino football leaders and our passionate community,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

     

    For the PFF, hosting the tournament represents more than a singular event. It is viewed as a catalyst for long-term growth — stimulating investment in facilities, strengthening domestic leagues, and inspiring greater youth participation, particularly among women and girls.

     

    Gutierrez emphasized that while recent achievements of the national teams have captured headlines, the federation’s deeper focus is on building sustainable foundations.

     

    “Behind the resurgence of our national teams with historic performances in the past years, it is the bricks and mortar – modern facilities, modernization of governance, and grassroots development support – that will define our future. President Infantino understands that for football to truly be global, every member association must have the tools to professionalize and grow. We are now better equipped than ever to nurture the next generation of talent,” he added.

    Central to that progress has been FIFA’s flagship development initiative, the FIFA Forward program, which has played a pivotal role in modernizing Philippine football infrastructure and administrative systems.

     

    Among the major milestones:

     

    World-Class Facilities: The establishment of the first-ever FIFA Arena in Balanga, Bataan — a landmark project aimed at raising training and competition standards. The initiative is expected to expand further, with plans to roll out at least 20 world-class pitches nationwide by 2026, significantly widening access to quality playing surfaces.

     

    A New Home for Football: The construction of a new five-story PFF National Headquarters and Training Center in Carmona, Cavite. Designed as a high-performance hub, the facility will serve as the central base for national teams, coaching education, and federation operations.

     

    Modernization in All Spheres: Beyond infrastructure, FIFA has extended guidance in coaching education, grassroots development, and governance reforms, helping the PFF strengthen transparency, accountability, and long-term strategic planning.

     

    Araneta highlighted the broader regional impact of Infantino’s leadership, particularly in empowering Asian member associations.

     

    “President Infantino has been a true partner for Asian football and for the Philippines in particular. His commitment to equal opportunity and global growth empowered nations like ours to accelerate football development,” Araneta added.

     

    Women’s football, in particular, has benefited from structural reforms introduced during Infantino’s tenure. FIFA’s decision to expand the FIFA Women’s World Cup from 24 teams in 2019 to 32 in 2023 created greater competitive opportunities for emerging nations and strengthened the sport’s global reach. For countries like the Philippines, expanded pathways to elite competition have provided both exposure and belief — fueling a surge of interest and participation at the grassroots level.

     

    As Infantino reaches a decade at the helm of world football’s governing body, Philippine football leaders see their country’s upward trajectory as part of a larger vision: a more inclusive, better-resourced global game where developing federations are equipped not just to participate, but to thrive.

     

     

    👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

    📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and join the community of passionate sports fans.