The UEFA continues his war with the FIFA after learning through the media about Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell part of the World Cup to a company to exploit the competition. Today he confirmed that he supports the boycott of the competitions of the highest world football body if its president continues with his project.
The UEFA statement
Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 national associations*
UEFA and its national federations will not participate in FIFA competitions
UEFA and its 55 member associations stand united. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of the greatest sporting legacies of football. It has been forged over generations thanks to players, national teams and fans from all continents. No part of it should ever be given to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
It is irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such importance to football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with managing the sport. This is not only a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the guardian of world football.
National federations around the world now face an ultimatum: accept the irreversible takeover of football’s most important competitions or face the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance based on intimidation: an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the management of world football.
But our opposition goes far beyond the process.
The moment external investors buy stakes in FIFA competitions, football will change forever. Commercial profitability will become a permanent obligation. Investor expectations will become a daily pressure. From that moment on, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision that shapes the future of football will no longer be motivated by what best serves the sport, but by what best serves shareholders.
This model has no place in world football. The future of football cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose primary duty is to maximize financial returns. Nor can the interests of national federations, leagues, clubs, players and fans be subordinated to the profitability of investors. Football cannot mortgage its future for the sake of economic profit.
Europe’s position is clear. We will never grant legitimacy to this model. No one has the moral authority to sell what they have simply been entrusted with in the name of the next generation.
As a result of today’s debate, no UEFA national team will participate in any FIFA competition while these proposals remain in force, unless the proposal has been completely abandoned and binding guarantees have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
Let no one be in any doubt: UEFA and its national federations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
There are times when institutions are judged not by what they are willing to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise on. This is one of those moments.
There are things that are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It will always be like this. And as long as Europe has a say, it will never be for sale.
