Why UEFA is threatening boycott of FIFA competitions
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has unanimously agreed to boycott future FIFA competitions should its president Gianni Infantino go-ahead with proposed plans to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
UEFA and all of its national associations, in a statement issued on Thursday unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests, saying the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product.
The European football body, which issued the threat after an emergency meeting of all UEFA’s 55 member associations, stated that no part of the World Cup should ever be surrendered to private investors.
It argued that the World Cup is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies, which has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.
“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.”
“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.
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“This model has no place in world football,” the statement concluded.
While defending FIFA’s investment plan amid mounting backlash, Infantino spoke about the moves to sell up to a 20% stake in a new commercial subsidiary, calling it an opportunity, not an obligation.
“FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, is actually a proposal, an offer. It’s part of a democratic process—a consultation process—and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation,” Infantino said in a video released Wednesday evening.
“It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally. But again, it is just an offer, not an obligation.
“Capturing that value requires additional expertise, additional insight, distinct from governing and developing the sport.
“It would simply commercialise and organise all FIFA-owned competitions along with sponsorship, broadcast, licensing and new ventures for the benefit of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
“Fans from everywhere in the world would gain immeasurably from this game-changing potential because it will transform football in their countries,” he said.
