Zurich, July 31 (QNA) - FIFA reiterated today its commitment to holding open and democratic consultations with all member associations on its proposal to establish an independent commercial entity to manage its commercial activities and organize its flagship tournaments, saying all member associations would have the opportunity to review the proposal and express their views before any decision is taken.

In a statement, FIFA said it had taken into account comments submitted by the continental confederations, including UEFA and CONCACAF, stressing that the proposal would only be adopted if it received the support of a majority of FIFA's 211 member associations and the approval of the FIFA Council for the necessary regulatory amendments.

FIFA added that the consultation process had been affected by what it described as inaccurate media reports, saying it intended to complete the consultations to ensure member associations make their decisions based on the facts. Under the proposal, member associations would receive a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, while funding allocations for the 2027-2030 period would increase from $8 million to $20 million.

FIFA's statement comes amid growing opposition to the proposal after UEFA said it was prepared to boycott the FIFA World Cup in protest against the plan.

Member associations of CONCACAF also unanimously rejected the proposal to sell a stake in the commercial operations linked to the World Cup during their meeting on Thursday, reflecting the widening debate over the future management of the commercial rights to world football's premier tournaments. (QNA)