The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and all 55 of its member associations have unanimously backed a boycott of FIFA competitions if the world football governing body proceeds with plans to sell stakes in its major tournaments to private investors.
The decision followed an emergency meeting convened after FIFA unveiled plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary to oversee its major events, including the World Cup, with external investors allowed to acquire stakes in the entity.
UEFA said the proposed arrangement was unacceptable and insisted that the World Cup should not be treated as an investment product.
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA and its members said they “stand as one” in rejecting the proposal, arguing that the World Cup was a sporting legacy built over generations by players, national teams and supporters around the world.
The boycott would cover all FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup, for as long as the private ownership proposal remains in place.
The first major test of UEFA’s position could come in October, when the Women’s World Cup play-offs are scheduled to take place.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new commercial subsidiary that would consolidate FIFA’s commercial and event operations. FIFA says it would retain full control over football governance, competitions and sporting decisions, while the plan is intended to generate additional funding for football development.
Infantino has reportedly offered FIFA’s 211 member associations an additional $20 million in immediate funding if they approve the proposal, with the broader plan expected to generate more than $10 billion in development funding over the coming years.
UEFA, however, has accused FIFA of pushing through a major structural change without adequate consultation and warned that private investors could shift the priorities of football towards shareholder returns.
The European body said its national teams would not participate in FIFA competitions unless the proposal was completely abandoned and binding assurances were given that FIFA would not again open its competitions or governance to private ownership.
The dispute represents a major escalation between FIFA and UEFA and could have significant consequences for international football if the two sides fail to reach an agreement.
