FIFA is not backing down: Inside the dramatic UEFA meeting
The world football governing body continues to push for the privatization of the World Cup, despite fierce opposition and boycott threats from UEFA. European football leaders are already preparing a contingency plan.
Despite immense criticism, FIFA announced on Friday that it will continue the consultation process regarding the introduction of private investors to the World Cup and other tournaments it manages, despite fierce opposition led by UEFA and threats to boycott the organization's events.
The plan, revealed on Tuesday, includes the creation of a new company called FIFA Forward Enterprise to manage the commercial and operational activities of the World Cup. The company's value is estimated at approximately $20 billion, with FIFA planning to offer external investors up to 20% of its shares.
The move sparked outrage among regional confederations, who claimed they were not informed in advance. UEFA accused FIFA of attempting to put the "soul of football" up for sale and announced that its 55 member associations have voted in favor of boycotting all FIFA tournaments.
FIFA rejected these claims, stating: "No one is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever consider." The organization further clarified that the consultation process was hampered by "incorrect media reports" and emphasized that without the support of the majority of member associations, the new company would not be established.
One of the most dramatic meetings in UEFA's history began as a routine video call and ended over two hours later with an unprecedented threat to boycott all FIFA competitions. According to The Telegraph, representatives of the 55 European associations spoke out against Gianni Infantino's plan. "We don't need this, we can generate the money ourselves. It is simply devoid of logic," was the prevailing sentiment.
Participants included English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt and CEO Mark Bullingham, both of whom expressed opposition. Hewitt, who also serves as a FIFA vice president, emphasized that she had no prior knowledge of the move before it was revealed on Tuesday.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin opened the meeting, followed by professional and economic arguments against the plan. One source noted: "They are trying to make a deal that will eventually return our own money to us." The core of UEFA's argument is that FIFA is seeking to sell assets built over generations by national teams, players, and fans, only to present a portion of the income as a budget addition.
Amid these developments, discussions have surfaced regarding a candidate to challenge Infantino in next year's FIFA presidential elections. The name of Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been mentioned as a potential candidate capable of uniting European support.
Furthermore, UEFA holds a contingency plan: a "World Nations League" format, formulated in 2017. This plan, which involves seven separate final tournaments in odd-numbered years, could serve as a viable alternative to the World Cup should the rift with FIFA deepen.
