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'Never for sale': European nations vow World Cup boycott over FIFA equity plan

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • European nations will boycott all FIFA competitions in protest against President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
  • UEFA stated that "some things are simply too important to sell" and the World Cup "will never be for sale."
  • Infantino's proposal involves creating a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, with 20% ownership by private investors, offering member nations increased funding.

European nations have declared they will boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions, protesting President Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in soccer's premier tournament to private equity investors.

UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.

— UEFAThe European soccer body announced its decision to boycott FIFA events following an urgent meeting.

UEFA, the European soccer governing body, announced the boycott after an urgent online meeting of its 55 member nations. "UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions," the organization stated. UEFA emphasized its strong opposition, declaring, "Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale."

Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.

— UEFAUEFA stated its firm stance against commercializing the World Cup.

The boycott is a direct response to Infantino's proposal to spin off FIFA's commercial operations into a new $20 billion subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Under this plan, 20% of FFE would be owned by private investors, with a New York investment firm linked to Jared Kushner reportedly being the core investor. Infantino had offered FIFA's 211 global members $20 million each if they approved the plan by mid-September, doubling their basic funding for the next four years and projecting significantly higher overall FIFA funding through 2038.

This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football.

— UEFAUEFA criticized Infantino's plan as a dereliction of FIFA's responsibilities.

UEFA condemned the move, calling it "a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football." Infantino's strategy faces growing anger and frustration among soccer stakeholders, potentially threatening his presidency. FIFA has set a November 18 deadline for presidential candidates, with elections scheduled for March in Morocco. The Football Supporters Europe group has already called for Infantino's removal, posting "Game over, Gianni #InfantinOUT" following the boycott threat.

Game over, Gianni #InfantinOUT

— Football Supporters EuropeThe fan group expressed strong opposition to Infantino's leadership following the boycott threat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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