FIFA President Infantino backs additional funding for associations

International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino has ordered an assessment of the possibility of allocating funds to national associations.

This was reported by the Reuters news agency, citing a letter from the head of FIFA.

It is noted that the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) are demanding that at least $10 million be allocated to each of the 211 national associations that make up FIFA. Proposals on additional funding will be submitted for consideration by the FIFA Council on October 15. In a letter to the presidents of the six continental confederations, Infantino said that the allocation of any additional funds would be possible only after a financial review has been conducted and official approval obtained.

"Until the assessment is completed and the necessary approvals are obtained, no preliminary figure can be regarded as an approved commitment to the national associations," Infantino wrote.

In July, it became known that Infantino wanted to create a company that would control the organization's main men's and women's competitions. In his view, the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise would increase the profits of FIFA's member associations and contribute to the development of football worldwide. The International Federation of Association Football said that this scheme could attract $4.2 billion. The initiative was widely criticized and condemned by officials, federations and other organizations, after which Infantino abandoned the idea.