- UEFA member federations agreed Thursday to boycott all FIFA competitions in protest at Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.
- Infantino's secret proposal was revealed Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a new $20 billion subsidiary 20 per cent owned by private investors.
- UEFA stated, "Some things are simply too important to sell," emphasizing the importance of the World Cup to football.
- UEFA declared, "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 criticized the proposal, stating, "This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football."
- UEFA warned that, "The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever."
- FIFA's strategy meeting was called to counter Infantino's offer of $20 million to each of FIFA's 211 global members, which must be accepted by mid-September.
- FIFA's sales pitch states that financial growth will be achieved by staging more tournaments, having higher ticket prices, and debt financing.
- A 25-page sales deck titled "Fifa Forward Enterprise Member Materials" proposes creating a new company to run FIFA's commercial operations, with 20% sold to private investors.
- FIFA's document projects that the four-year FIFA Forward payments would increase to $24 million for each member by the 2035-39 cycle.
- FIFA's proposal includes plans to more than double the number of global tournaments held each year, from 200 to 450, which could strain player workload.
- Staging the World Cup more frequently is seen as a way to raise revenue, with previous proposals suggesting making it a biennial tournament.
- FIFA's document was sent to all 211 member associations and immediately provoked a strong reaction.
- Significantly, there is little mention of the investor group in the prospect, with no details on their identity, projected returns, or exit terms.
- Notably, there is no mention of women’s football anywhere across the 25 pages of the document.
UEFA's decision to boycott FIFA competitions stems from a strong opposition to Infantino's proposal to sell 20% stakes in a new $20 billion subsidiary to private investors. UEFA emphasized that the World Cup belongs to football and should not be commodified. The urgent meeting of the 55 member federations highlighted the gravity of the situation, with UEFA stating, "This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football."23456
Infantino's plan includes a $20 million offer to each of FIFA's 211 global members, which must be accepted by mid-September. The proposal, revealed in a 25-page sales deck, outlines plans for financial growth through increased tournaments and ticket prices, raising concerns about player workload and the future of the sport. UEFA's statement reflects a commitment to preserving the integrity of football, asserting that "the moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever."79
The document also notably omits any mention of women's football, raising further questions about FIFA's priorities. UEFA's stance signals a significant rift between European football and FIFA, as they advocate for the sport's values over financial gain.15
“UEFA's statement emphasized that "some things are simply too important to sell," highlighting the belief that the World Cup should remain untarnished by commercial interests. The proposed plan includes a $20 million sign-up payment for each of FIFA's 211 members, raising concerns about the future integrity of football.”
