UEFA Threatens FIFA Boycott Over World Cup Investment Plan

The Union of European Football Associations, UEFA, has voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA competitions if world football’s governing body proceeds with plans to sell minority ownership stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other tournaments to private investors.

The decision was approved 55-0 during an emergency meeting of UEFA’s member associations on Thursday.

In a strongly worded statement, UEFA rejected FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to create a new commercial subsidiary that would sell a 20 percent stake to private equity investors. “The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will,” UEFA said. “The World Cup is not for sale.”

FIFA says the proposal could generate more than $10 billion for football development over the next four years. However, UEFA warned that bringing in outside investors would place commercial interests ahead of the sport.

The boycott would affect all FIFA tournaments involving UEFA members, with the first event scheduled to take place after the decision being the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland in September.

The move represents one of the biggest disputes between FIFA and UEFA in recent years. CONCACAF is expected to discuss the proposal separately before FIFA’s member associations vote on the plan later this year.