Women's football will be the first victim of FIFA's plan

Women's football will be the first victim of FIFA's plan

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Why it's important

Women's football looks set to be severely affected by FIFA's new plans. Anita Asante warned that the change would have a direct impact on the competition and explained why UEFA's 55 member associations decided to boycott. This is an important issue that threatens the development and opportunities of women's soccer, and there are concerns about the impact of FIFA's decisions on female players.

Key takeaways

• Women's football will be the first casualty of FIFA's plans.
• Former England defender Anita Asante fears FIFA's plans to sell the competition to private investors will deal a major blow to women's football.
• Uefa boycott: Women's football 'first casualties' of Fifa's plans - BBC Sport.

There are warnings that women's football will be the hardest hit as FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushes ahead with plans to sell a stake in the tournament to private investors. Former England defender Anita Asante told the BBC: "The women's football competition will be the first casualty." Asante noted that UEFA's 55 member associations had decided to boycott all FIFA competitions until Infantino's proposal was withdrawn, raising concerns about the impact this would have on women's football. UEFA's position makes it clear that FIFA's proposals will indeed have a direct impact on women's football competitions, the first test of which will be the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which begins in Poland on September 5. “I don’t think FIFA has considered the consequences of their decision,” Asante added. The Polish Football Association (PZPN) said on the 5th that it had not received any information about the team's withdrawal from the competition and that preparations were proceeding as planned. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will compete in the Women's World Cup qualifiers in Brazil in October, while the U-17 Women's World Cup will be held in Morocco in the same month. “The most disappointing thing for the players is that they cannot take the opportunity to play in the World Cup for granted,” Asante emphasized. He warned: “If this issue is not resolved by the time of England’s qualifiers, the impact will be significant and could further impact an already busy schedule.” 

FIFA's response to UEFA's boycott was that "no one is selling football" and that the consultation process was being hampered by misleading media reports. Concacaf, which governs soccer in Central and North America, said it had rejected FIFA's proposal, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also expressed solidarity with its European and North American colleagues. Meanwhile, Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Gianni Infantino, resigned from his position, saying: "This proposal is a bad deal for football and will mortgage the future of football." “I am pleased that UEFA has been very clear in their position and has shown a firm commitment to this issue,” Asante said. She warned: “This proposal takes away the essence of football and the essence of the competition. Women could become victims again.” FIFA is looking to set up a commercial subsidiary to run its major events and plans to invite external investors to buy a stake in the new subsidiary. “Third parties will be invited to make small, non-controlling investments,” FIFA said. The subsidiary will be called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and Infantino has set a deadline of September 19 for each football federation to accept his controversial plan. FIFA's competition is expected to record increased payments of €24 million to each member association over the 2035-2039 cycle, according to a 25-page document prepared by JP Morgan. The document mentioned “new business initiatives” and “ways to attract top talent with incentive-based compensation.” However, there was no mention of women's games at all. If the proposal is approved, US venture capital firm Thrive Eternal is expected to lead FFE's investment group for the proposal.

future outlook

The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which begins in Poland on September 5, will be the first test of UEFA's boycott. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales host Women's World Cup qualifiers in October and could have significant repercussions if the issue is not resolved by then. Asante emphasizes that this situation will be disappointing for the players and is concerned about the impact FIFA's decision will have on the future of women's football.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is women’s football being harmed?

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is pushing ahead with plans to sell a stake in the tournament to private investors, sparking warnings that women's football will be the hardest hit.

Who warned of the damage done to women's football?

Former England defender Anita Asante has warned that women's football competitions will be the first victims.

Why is this issue being raised now?

As FIFA announces plans to set up a new commercial subsidiary and sell a stake to external investors, concerns are growing about the impact this will have on women's football.

What is UEFA's position on FIFA's plans?

UEFA is clear that FIFA's proposal will have a direct impact on women's football competitions and has decided to boycott it.

What is the schedule for the Women's World Cup qualifiers?

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are scheduled to play Women's World Cup qualifiers in Brazil in October.

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