Football is not for sale: UEFA confirms boycott of World Cup and FIFA competitions
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Gianni Infantino is the president of FIFA and is at the center of this controversy. His plans deepen the conflict with UEFA, which is expected to have significant implications for Europe's participation in FIFA competitions.
Why it's important
UEFA's boycott announcement represents a major challenge to FIFA and Gianni Infantino's plans. If major European soccer nations do not participate in the World Cup, it could seriously harm Infantino's revenue model. This is expected to affect the credibility of FIFA competitions.
Key takeaways
- Football is not for sale: UEFA confirms boycott of World Cup and FIFA competitions.
- UEFA has declared a boycott of the FIFA tournament if Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to a private investor is approved.
- ‘Football is not for sale’: Uefa confirms boycott of World Cup and Fifa competitions - Yahoo Sports.
European football's governing body UEFA has announced a boycott of FIFA competitions if Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell his World Cup stake passes a vote. The decision was unanimously agreed upon at an emergency meeting on Thursday. UEFA officially announced that "all UEFA national teams will not participate in any FIFA competitions while this proposal exists." UEFA holds such sway that if the World Cup is not attended by major countries such as Spain, France, England and Germany, Infantino's quest for maximum revenue from the global showcase will be severely hampered. Six of the teams that advanced to the quarterfinals of the summer World Cup were European teams. This will also have a negative impact on the Women's World Cup to be held in Brazil next year. Spain are the current champions, while European champions England have attracted significant commercial interest in the competition. England, the 2023 World Cup runners-up, will play a double-qualifying play-off in October, as will Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A spokesman for the English Football Association echoed UEFA's position, saying: "We stand with our European colleagues and fully support their collective views. We are opposed to FIFA's plans. The FIFA World Cup is, and always will be, about football."
Meanwhile, the majority of the 2030 World Cup will be held in Europe, with Spain and Portugal jointly sharing hosting rights with Morocco. It begins with matches hosted by Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in South America. On Tuesday, FIFA announced plans to set up a new $20 billion subsidiary, 20% of which would be owned by private investors. This new investment project will be led by Joshua Kushner, the older brother of President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. UEFA claimed: "This is not a simple failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the guardian of world football." Infantino also promised in his letter to the federations that the new FFE subsidiary would increase the federation's revenue from about $8 million to $20 million over the 2027-2031 period. However, he warned that if the vote does not pass, the funds available to the coalition of member states will be reduced to $10 million. “National associations around the world are now being given an ultimatum to accept the permanent capture of football’s greatest competition or risk the consequences,” a UEFA statement said. In this situation, UEFA's boycott declaration was made ahead of a vote among FIFA's 211 member countries on September 19. Infantino's proposal would require more than 50% of the votes and support from FIFA's governing body, and UEFA would need additional support from other federations in North America or Asia to avoid a boycott. “UEFA and its 55 member countries stand united in rejecting FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership of the World Cup and other competitions to private investors,” UEFA said in a statement. The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product; it is one of football's greatest legacies. The competition has been built over decades by players, national teams and fans from around the world. No part of it should be handed over to private investors. “The World Cup is not for sale,” he emphasized.
future outlook
UEFA's member countries will decide their position on Infantino's plan in a vote among FIFA's 211 members on September 19. If this plan passes, UEFA is likely to implement a boycott. This could make the participation of European teams in future FIFA competitions uncertain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decision did UEFA make?
UEFA has announced a boycott of FIFA competitions if Gianni Infantino's plan to sell his World Cup stake passes a vote.
When was this boycott announced?
The boycott declaration was made ahead of a vote among FIFA's 211 member countries on 19 September.
Why has UEFA decided to boycott now?
UEFA decided to boycott if Infantino's proposal passes, as it believes the transfer of ownership of FIFA competitions to private investors threatens the very essence of football.
Who confirmed UEFA's decision to boycott?
UEFA confirmed in an official statement that all UEFA national teams will not participate in any FIFA competitions while this proposal exists.
What impact will this boycott have on FIFA competitions?
The absence of UEFA's leading nations from FIFA competitions is expected to deal a serious blow to Infantino's quest for maximum revenue from the global showcase.
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