UEFA threatens FIFA with World Cup boycott over Infantino's plans
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- UEFA is threatening FIFA with a boycott of the World Cup if the latter proceeds with plans to sell commercial rights to private investors.
- The European football body and its 55 member associations unanimously reject the FIFA proposal, calling it an "investment product" rather than a sporting legacy.
- FIFA aims to raise billions through the deal, with a deadline of September 19 for member associations to approve the plan.
UEFA is confronting FIFA over its plans to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, threatening a boycott of the tournament if the deal goes through. The European football governing body stated that no UEFA national teams would participate in any FIFA competition while these proposals remain active.
No national teams from UEFA will participate in any FIFA competition as long as these proposals continue.
In an official statement following an emergency meeting, UEFA declared its "unanimous and unequivocal" rejection of FIFA's proposal to transfer equity rights in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. The organization emphasized that the World Cup should not be treated as an investment product but as a significant sporting legacy.
UEFA and its 55 member associations stand united.
FIFA, led by President Gianni Infantino, had revealed surprise plans to raise billions by selling a portion of its commercial rights. The world football governing body reportedly set a September 19 deadline for its 211 member associations to approve the planned investor deal, promising a special payment in return. Infantino defended the move as a "unique opportunity to significantly accelerate the worldwide development of football."
We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer equity rights in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
UEFA, however, sees the plan very differently and has announced massive resistance. The threat of a boycott extends to the upcoming Women's World Cup in Brazil and the men's 2030 World Cup. Without European teams like Spain, England, France, and Germany, the sporting value of the World Cup would be severely diminished. German Football Association (DFB) President Bernd Neuendorf and Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke have also declared their opposition to the investor plan.
The World Cup must not be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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