UEFA has threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions after FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed selling stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private equity investors.European football’s body announced the decision on Thursday after holding an emergency online meeting with its 55 member associations.“UEFA and its national associations will not take part in FIFA competitions,” UEFA said after the meeting.The next event on the FIFA calendar is the Women’s Under-20 World Cup, which takes place in Poland on September 5.Explaining its stance, UEFA said the World Cup should remain in the hands of football.“Some things are too important to be sold,” UEFA said in a statement. “This fifa world cup Belongs to football. It always will. As long as Europe has a say, it will never be for sale. “The emergency meeting came after Infantino offered FIFA’s 211 member associations an additional $20 million if they approved his proposal by mid-September.On Tuesday, Infantino revealed plans to create a new commercial company, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), with a valuation of $20 billion. Under the proposal, private investors would own 20% of the company. The main investor will be a New York investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.Infantino said in a letter to FIFA’s 211 member associations that approval of the FFE would increase the basic funding each member receives from $10 million to $20 million over the next four years. He also expects each member state to receive $86 million in funding from FIFA by 2038, instead of about $36 million.Infantino, who worked for UEFA for many years and served as secretary-general before becoming FIFA president in 2016, has criticized the proposal.UEFA said: “This is not only a serious failure of leadership, but also an abdication of FIFA’s responsibility as the guardian of world football.”UEFA warns against private ownershipUEFA also explained why it believes bringing outside investors into FIFA competitions could change the game permanently.UEFA said: “Once outside investors take ownership of FIFA competitions, football will be changed forever.” “Business returns become a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become daily pressures.”Infantino defended the proposal, saying private investment would “boost” football development around the world. Many of FIFA’s 211 member associations rely heavily on funding from FIFA.Officials from about 40 member associations spoke at Thursday’s meeting, according to UEFA. Some have questioned why FIFA does not use its own multi-billion dollar reserves to increase development funding, instead bringing in outside investors.European football’s body said: “Following today’s discussions, UEFA’s national teams will not compete in any FIFA competitions as long as the proposals remain in force, unless the proposals are abandoned in full and there are binding guarantees that FIFA will no longer open its governance or competition to private parties.”Questions about Infantino’s futureThe proposal also raises questions about Infantino’s future as FIFA president.FIFA sets November 18 as the deadline for candidate registration presidential electionwill be held in Rabat, Morocco next March.Until recently, it looked like Infantino would be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term until 2031.The Associated Press cited football officials as saying Infantino was interested in taking a commissioner-like role in FIFA’s Forward Enterprise after his term as president ends in 2031.
