Real Madrid Praises UEFA After FIFA Abandons Private Equity Plan

Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid has issued a statement expressing its gratitude to UEFACompetition·UEFA and various football confederations for their unified opposition, which ultimately led to FIFACompetition·FIFA abandoning its contentious private equity proposal. The Spanish club lauded the decision as a positive development for football, its governing bodies, and millions of fans worldwide.

The abandoned proposal, championed by FIFACompetition·FIFA President Gianni InfantinoPlayer·Gianni Infantino, involved the creation of a commercial subsidiary named FIFACompetition·FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan sought to sell a minority stake, up to 20 percent, in this new entity to private investors, aiming to raise approximately $4.2 billion. This initiative valued the company at an estimated $20 billion and was intended to manage the commercial and event-related activities of FIFACompetition·FIFA's major competitions, including the prestigious World CupCompetition·World Cup.

The proposal faced significant resistance from numerous football organizations. UEFACompetition·UEFA emerged as a particularly vocal opponent, asserting that FIFACompetition·FIFA had overstepped an acceptable boundary by considering the sale of a financial interest tied to its flagship competitions. The European governing body had even warned of a potential boycott of FIFACompetition·FIFA competitions if the commercial restructuring proceeded, and declared that Gianni InfantinoPlayer·Gianni Infantino had "lost the confidence" of UEFACompetition·UEFA.

Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid's statement underscored the collective effort: "Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid values very positively the decision taken by FIFACompetition·FIFA to abandon the proposal to partially sell the commercial rights of its competitions. 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."

The club further extended its appreciation, stating: "Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid would like to express its gratitude to UEFACompetition·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."

This outcome represents a notable victory for UEFACompetition·UEFA, CONCACAFCompetition·CONCACAF, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and several national associations who advocated for the traditional governance structures of football. It effectively prevents a potential shift in control and revenue distribution from major tournaments like the World CupCompetition·World Cup to private investors, thereby preserving the existing financial frameworks and influence of football's established governing bodies. The withdrawal of the proposal also defuses the immediate threat of further escalation in the governance dispute, including UEFACompetition·UEFA's previous consideration of a no-confidence vote in Infantino.

This development follows a period of improved relations between Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid and UEFACompetition·UEFA, with the club, a founding member of the European Super League project, reportedly reaching an agreement with UEFACompetition·UEFA in February 2026.