Ahmed Yahya urges unity after FIFA ends Forward Enterprise proposal

Ahmed Yahya, president of the FFRIM, has supported FIFA’s decision to abandon the Forward Enterprise project while stressing that the development of football worldwide must remain the priority for all national associations.

Acknowledging the decision, Ahmed Yahya said the progress achieved through FIFA’s development programmes in recent years should be protected and strengthened. He placed particular emphasis on the impact of that support in Africa, where the advances made through FIFA initiatives represent an important foundation for the future of the game.

His position combines acceptance of the decision with a warning that football’s long-term development must not be weakened by disagreements surrounding major reforms. For Ahmed Yahya, the interests of the global game should remain at the centre of discussions between FIFA and its 211 member associations.

The FFRIM president also underlined the importance of unity when proposals for significant reform risk creating deep divisions. He argued that maintaining cohesion and protecting the “football family” should take precedence over any other consideration.

That principle, he said, should apply even when a decision temporarily runs against the immediate interests of some national federations. In his view, safeguarding the collective strength of the sport is more important than securing short-term advantages for individual associations.

Ahmed Yahya’s response therefore goes beyond support for the abandonment of Forward Enterprise. It also sets out his broader view of how football governance should operate when major changes produce disagreement among its members.

He believes that consensus and solidarity must guide the process, particularly where reforms could affect the development of the game in different regions. The progress made through FIFA’s support programmes, especially in Africa, was identified as something that must be preserved rather than put at risk.

The FFRIM president concluded by reaffirming his commitment to working with FIFA and all 211 member associations. His stated aim is to help develop solutions that are sustainable, ambitious and shared across the football community.

Ahmed Yahya said unity remains the most valuable asset in world football. He believes it should continue to shape the future of sports governance and provide the basis for decisions that serve the wider game.

His message is that disagreements over reform should not damage the relationships between football’s governing bodies. Instead, the “football family” should remain united, with the development of football treated as a common responsibility.

By backing the decision to abandon the Forward Enterprise project while also calling for continued progress, Ahmed Yahya has placed the focus on cooperation, long-term development and shared responsibility among FIFA’s member associations.