All 55 of Uefa’s member associations have voted to boycott World Cups if Fifa proceeds with its plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
The decision followed an emergency virtual meeting chaired by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, called specifically to address the controversial proposal announced by Fifa this week.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino wants to create a commercial subsidiary called Fifa Forward Enterprise, with external investors able to buy minority, non-controlling stakes in it.
The plan requires approval from a vote of Fifa’s 211 member associations, and Infantino has written to them offering $40m each if they back his proposal.
He has set a 19 September deadline for federations to accept the plans if they want to access an initial $20m payment, with Fifa aiming to bank the first tranche of private investment by the end of October.
If approval is granted, American venture capital firm Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group, founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Uefa said in a statement that its 55 member associations “stand as one” and “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,” Uefa said, adding that “no part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors” and that “the World Cup is not for sale.”
Uefa also called it “irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret” and “without any meaningful consultation” with those who steward the game.
Its statement went further, describing the situation as “not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football.”
Uefa vice-president Laura McAllister described Fifa’s proposals as a “genuine existential threat to the game,” while expressing cautious optimism that a boycott would ultimately not be needed.
“I feel optimistic they won’t, because the reality is the powerhouse of world football is Europe,” the former Wales international told BBC Radio Wales.
McAllister also told Radio 4’s PM programme there was “real unity” among Uefa members and said the boycott threat was a necessary response to a “dreadful, catastrophic proposal that has been rushed through with no due diligence, no proper governance and no consultation.”
FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt and chief executive Mark Bullingham were among those who spoke during the meeting, with the atmosphere reportedly described as venomous, given the strength of feeling against the proposals.
Despite being one of eight Fifa vice-presidents, Hewitt reportedly had no prior knowledge of the discussions Infantino had been conducting regarding the proposals.
A Football Association spokeswoman confirmed England stood “shoulder to shoulder” with European colleagues, saying “we oppose Fifa’s plans — the Fifa World Cup belongs to football and always will.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added her voice to the growing opposition, stating: “This is a principled decision that we strongly support. Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. Enough is enough. It’s time to take a stand to protect our game.”
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had already criticised the proposals earlier in the week, warning that proceeding with the plan would mean Fifa had “sold out.”
Former FA chairman David Bernstein told BBC Sport that Infantino ultimately has no choice but to reverse course, saying: “I think on this occasion, Infantino’s got to back down. This deal is not acceptable.”
Bernstein also cautioned against the prospect of a permanent split, adding: “I can’t believe in the long term there will be a schism because it would be a lose-lose for everybody.”
The first major test of Uefa’s stance arrives in October, when the Women’s World Cup play-offs are scheduled to be held, with uncertainty also surrounding the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland from 5 September.
