Sport
England and UEFA nations WILL BOYCOTT World Cup in protest over Gianni Infantino sale plan
Key Points
UEFA have voted to boycott the World Cup and ALL FIFA COMPETITIONS after holding a meeting in response to plans that have emerged from FIFA president Gianni Infantino that would see private investment in the federation’s competitions. Plans emerged that FIFA were looking to sell shares in its competitions, which would include the World Cup and Women’s World Cup, the latter of which will take place in Brazil next year. The proposals have been criticised by leading organisations and...
UEFA have voted to boycott the World Cup and ALL FIFA COMPETITIONS after holding a meeting in response to plans that have emerged from FIFA president Gianni Infantino that would see private investment in the federation’s competitions.
Plans emerged that FIFA were looking to sell shares in its competitions, which would include the World Cup and Women’s World Cup, the latter of which will take place in Brazil next year.
The proposals have been criticised by leading organisations and individuals within the game, including UEFA, who had already issued two statements in response to the controversial plans. FIFA had written to their 211 member associations with the promise of $40m (£30m) if they were to show support for the scheme, something which UEFA have since criticised.
UEFA held a meeting between its member associations on Thursday amid rumours that they could consider boycotting the next World Cup in response to the controversial proposals.
Now UEFA's member associations, including England, have unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and ALL FIFA competitions if the plans put forward by Infantino go ahead.
UEFA have issued a statement after the emergency meeting, which reads: "UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.
"We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors."
In response to the initial backlash, FIFA president Infantino insisted that the plans would still be the subject of a democratic vote between the 211 member associations.
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In a video released on Wednesday, Infantino said: "FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, is actually a proposal, an offer. It's part of a democratic process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation
“It is a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally. But again, it is just an offer, not an obligation."
He went on to add: "Capturing that value requires additional expertise, additional insight, distinct from governing and developing the sport.
“It would simply commercialise and organise all FIFA-owned competitions along with sponsorship, broadcast, licensing and new ventures for the benefit of FIFA's 211 member associations."
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