Pinnick Backs Infantino’s FFE Proposal, Says Every FA Will Get $20m

Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has thrown his weight behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), saying the initiative would provide every FIFA member association with $20 million if approved.

Pinnick, who is the Deputy Chairperson of the FIFA Men’s National Teams Competition Committee, said Infantino was well within his powers to introduce reforms aimed at strengthening global football, noting that FIFA’s member associations would ultimately decide whether to adopt the proposal.

“As FIFA President, Gianni Infantino has the right to propose changes, and it is up to stakeholders to accept or reject them,” Pinnick said.

He explained that Infantino had embarked on extensive consultations on the FFE proposal, which would see FIFA establish a new for-profit commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and sell minority stakes to external investors while retaining control of football governance.

According to Pinnick, the proposal is designed to benefit all FIFA member associations, including the Nigeria Football Federation, the Ghana Football Association, the South African Football Association and the other national federations across the world.

“The beneficiaries of the proposal will still be the member associations — including the Nigeria FA, Ghana FA, South African FA, and all other FAs,” he said.

Pinnick described the initiative as one deserving broad support, especially coming on the heels of what he described as the most successful FIFA World Cup.

Under the proposal, FIFA would retain majority ownership and full authority over football competitions and regulations, while the new commercial entity would manage revenue-generating assets such as broadcasting rights, sponsorships, licensing and ticketing. If approved by FIFA’s member associations, the plan is expected to unlock billions of dollars for football development, with each member association eligible to receive an initial $20 million through the proposed funding programme.