Isha Johansen Urges Infantino to Resign Over FIFA Forward Enterprise

Former Sierra Leone Football Association president Isha Johansen, who served on the FIFA Council from March 2021 until stepping down in 2021, publicly declared that FIFA president Gianni Infantino “has crossed the line” and caused a breach of trust, urging him to step down “for the good of football.” She framed the issue as an ethical failure rather than a personal grievance, arguing that Infantino’s conduct threatens the integrity of FIFA’s governance.

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Infantino’s “FIFA Forward Enterprise” proposal sought to create a commercial subsidiary valued at roughly $20 billion, offering up to 20 percent of the entity to external investors. The plan would have consolidated broadcasting, sponsorship and ticketing revenues and promised each of FIFA’s 211 member associations as much as $40 million during the 2027-30 cycle. Strong opposition emerged from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation over both the substance of the deal and the process used to present it. In response to the backlash, Infantino withdrew the proposal and issued an apology, yet the episode sparked a broader confrontation over FIFA’s governance.

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee unanimously reaffirmed its support for Infantino and his slated re-election in 2027. Johansen criticized this stance, saying it reinforced a “premature” perception that African football automatically backs the FIFA president and that such loyalty should not eclipse ethical scrutiny.

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Both figures stress that financial incentives—such as the potential $40 million payouts—should not override the need to examine the ethical dimensions of the Forward Enterprise proposal.

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• “Clearly it seems that he has crossed the line and there has been a breach of trust here,” — Isha Johansen, the former Sierra Leone Football Association president

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• “When I heard about the proposal, I said, this is a no deal. It's a no-go,” — Isha Johansen, the former Sierra Leone Football Association president

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• “As it stands now, it would appear that he is not going to go unopposed, that's for sure,” — Isha Johansen, the former Sierra Leone Football Association president

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• “I hate the perception, and I said this over and over again, even today, that there is that silent perception that, of course, Africa's going to say we're going to stand by him,” — Isha Johansen, the former Sierra Leone Football Association president

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