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UEFA demands accountability from FIFA after World Cup share sale plan is scrapped
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey /Sports

UEFA demands accountability from FIFA after World Cup share sale plan is scrapped

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • UEFA issued a strong response to FIFA's abandoned plan to sell World Cup commercial shares to private investors, calling for accountability.
  • The European football body criticized the "secret plans" and vowed to investigate their origins, stating that FIFA's current management has lost the trust of many.
  • UEFA argued that FIFA has sufficient reserves and should use existing funds for football development rather than selling off valuable assets.

UEFA has delivered a sharp rebuke to FIFA following the withdrawal of a controversial plan to sell commercial shares of the World Cup to private investors. The European football governing body welcomed the retraction but stressed that the matter is far from over, demanding that those responsible be identified and held accountable.

We cannot continue like this with secret plans carried out at breakneck speed, drawn up by anonymous individuals and whose benefit to the sport is questionable. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.

โ€” UEFA statementExpressing strong disapproval of FIFA's secret plan and demanding accountability.

In a strongly worded statement, UEFA declared, "We cannot continue like this with secret plans carried out at breakneck speed, drawn up by anonymous individuals and whose benefit to the sport is questionable. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account." The organization announced its intention to collaborate with member federations and other confederations to conduct a comprehensive investigation into how the plan came about, leaving no stone unturned.

UEFA intensified its criticism of FIFA's current leadership, stating, "The current FIFA management has lost the trust not only of UEFA but of many members of the football family." The statement also reminded FIFA President Gianni Infantino of his promises made in 2016 regarding transparency and the ownership of financial resources by the federations. UEFA contends that these promises have not been fulfilled, citing the clandestine nature of the investment plan.

The current FIFA management has lost the trust not only of UEFA but of many members of the football family.

โ€” UEFA statementHighlighting a widespread loss of confidence in FIFA's leadership.

The European body further argued that FIFA possesses over $5 billion in reserves, suggesting that selling off valuable assets is unnecessary. "We must use some of the money in FIFA's bank account for the development of football. We don't need to sell our family heirlooms to pay the price," UEFA asserted. While viewing the plan's withdrawal as a victory, UEFA emphasized that the task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has just begun.

We must use some of the money in FIFA's bank account for the development of football. We don't need to sell our family heirlooms to pay the price.

โ€” UEFA statementAdvocating for the use of FIFA's existing funds for football development instead of selling assets.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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