Former Nigeria international Duke Udi has thrown his conditional support behind FIFA’s proposed $20 billion FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), insisting the ambitious project must prioritise football development and the welfare of players above all else.
FIFA’s proposal to establish the commercial subsidiary has generated widespread debate within the football community, with the initiative expected to create new revenue streams that would strengthen financial support for member associations through the FIFA Forward Programme.
READ ALSO: Eric Chelle’s Dual Role: Duke Udi Backs Super Eagles Coach But Urges NFF To Appoint Dedicated U-23 Manage
Reacting to the proposal, Udi said he would welcome the initiative if it genuinely served the interests of the game and those who play it.
“If the project is designed to improve football and benefit the players, then it deserves everyone’s support because the players are the main actors in the game,” Udi said.
The former Super Eagles midfielder, however, warned that the initiative must not become a vehicle for personal enrichment or poor governance.
“If the money is diverted for personal interests instead of developing football, then it should be opposed. Football stakeholders around the world will not keep quiet if the project fails to serve the game and its players,” he added.
Udi stressed that transparency, accountability and proper management of the proposed funds will determine whether the initiative succeeds in achieving its objectives.
He believes football administrators have a responsibility to ensure that additional revenues generated by the sport are invested in grassroots development, infrastructure, youth programmes and improved welfare for players rather than being mismanaged.
The former international maintained that the success of any FIFA-led financial initiative should ultimately be measured by its impact on football development at every level, insisting that players and the game itself must remain the biggest beneficiaries of the proposed enterprise.
