German Football Association calls for comprehensive investigation into withdrawn FIFA proposal

The German Football Association (DFB) called on Monday for a “comprehensive investigation” into how the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) prepared its plan to bring in private-sector investors, while simultaneously demanding a “radical change in work culture” within the world’s top football governing body.

FIFA had on Monday retracted the controversial project championed by its president, Gianni Infantino, which would have allowed private investors to enter business activities linked to the World Cup, following strong opposition from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and other continental confederations.

The German FA joined UEFA in rejecting the proposal and calling for a boycott of FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, before today demanding greater transparency regarding the mechanism used to develop the project.

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said in statements: “The FIFA president acted unilaterally, without transparency, and ultimately irresponsibly toward the interests of football.” He added: “We must, in cooperation with UEFA and other continental associations, ensure that a radically different culture is entrenched within FIFA, one in which decisions are discussed and taken again by members within governance bodies.”

The German FA joined its English counterpart, which had called via social media for a “full and comprehensive review of FIFA’s leadership and governance, to ensure the transparent management of global football.”

The FIFA project had drawn widespread criticism, despite being announced just weeks after the international federation revealed record revenues from the 2026 World Cup.