UEFA Threatens to Boycott World Cups if FIFA's Plans for Expansion Get Greenlit
Uefa's 55 member associations have voted to boycott all Fifa competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups, if the governing body proceeds with its plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
The decision was made at an emergency meeting called to discuss the proposals announced by Fifa on Tuesday. Uefa had made its opposition clear by releasing two damning statements about the plans.
Fifa wants to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it. The Swiss president, Gianni Infantino, wrote to all 211 Fifa member associations, saying they would receive $40m if they backed his plan.
Uefa has strongly rejected the proposals, saying the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. In a statement released after the meeting, Uefa said it and its 55 member associations "stand as one" in opposition to the plan.
The boycott would be triggered if Fifa's proposals are voted through by member associations. The first time this stance will be tested is October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are due to be held.
Fifa's plan has been met with fierce opposition from Uefa. The governing body accused Fifa of using football "to enrich themselves and their friends". Uefa's statement said: "The World Cup is not for sale. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent."
The opposition from Uefa has put pressure on Fifa's member associations to reconsider their stance. The deadline for football federations to accept the plan is 19 September, with an initial $20m on offer if they do so.
The fate of the plan will be decided in the coming weeks. Uefa's opposition has made it clear that it will not back down in its fight against the proposals. The first test of this stance will come in October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are held.
Source: BBC Sports