UEFA’s 55 member associations vote to boycott the World Cup if Fifa proceeds with its plan to sell stakes in its competitions.
UEFA has announced a boycott of all FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cup, after unanimously rejecting FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to raise $20 billion through the sale of a stake in FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) to private investors.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of UEFA’s 55 member associations on Thursday. It means major European football nations, including Germany, France, England and reigning world champions Spain, would not participate in FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeds.
Infantino unveiled the plan earlier this week. The proposal, backed by American investor Josh Kushner and JP Morgan, would generate more than $80 million for each of FIFA’s 211 member associations by 2037 in return for investor influence over future World Cups, including broadcasting and commercial rights. FIFA has given member associations until September 19 to approve the plan.
According to ESPN, more than 50 UEFA member associations spoke during the virtual meeting and expressed unanimous opposition to the proposal.
The first competition likely to be affected by the boycott is the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by Poland in September.
In a statement issued on behalf of UEFA and its 55 national associations, the governing body said: “UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.
“UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
“Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
“There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments. Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”
UEFA also criticised FIFA for failing to consult stakeholders before presenting the proposal.
“It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.
“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences.
“This is not a ‘democratic decision’, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.”
UEFA also warned that allowing private investors to acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions would permanently alter the governance of world football.
“Our opposition goes far beyond process.
“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation.
“Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
“This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns.
“Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.
“Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.”
