Infantino Announces FIFA Abandoned World Cup Stake Plan, UEFA Welcomes Decision

UEFA has officially welcomed FIFA's decision to scrap its controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions. The European football governing body, however, demanded accountability for the "secret, rushed plans" that were processed urgently.

In a statement, UEFA announced it would collaborate with its member federations and other confederations to thoroughly analyze how these plans emerged and develop measures to prevent recurrence. "No option should be excluded. The current FIFA leadership has lost not only the trust of UEFA but also that of many other members of the football family," the statement read. UEFA stressed the need to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the "dubious, hidden, and opaque agreement."

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No option should be excluded. The current FIFA leadership has lost not only the trust of UEFA but also that of many other members of the football family. We cannot continue like this, with secret rushed plans (conceived by anonymous individuals and of dubious benefit to the sport. We must identify those responsible and hold them accountable).

The reaction from UEFA came hours after FIFA officially confirmed it was withdrawing its proposal to create a separate company for commercializing its tournaments. UEFA highlighted that the proposal had been unanimously rejected by European national federations and many other global bodies dedicated to protecting football.

UEFA extended gratitude to fans, leagues, clubs, players, and officials worldwide who opposed the initiative. The organization also acknowledged the support from prime ministers, heads of state, and commentators who signaled to the FIFA president that football is not for sale. UEFA recalled FIFA President Gianni Infantino's 2016 election promises of transparency and using FIFA's funds for football development, contrasting them with the recent actions and stating that FIFA's substantial reserves have not been adequately used for the sport's benefit.

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Money from FIFA is your money. It is not the money of the FIFA president. It is your money. You are the national associations, and the money from FIFA must be used for the development of football and nothing else.