UEFA members vote to boycott FIFA if Infantino's World Cup plans pursued
3 hours ago
- UEFA has voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors proceeds.
- The boycott was agreed during an urgent virtual meeting of UEFA's 55 member federations in response to Infantino's proposal to offer $20 million to each of FIFA's 211 members in exchange for supporting the plan.
- The proposed deal involves spinning off FIFA's commercial operations into a $20 billion entity, with 20% owned by private investors, including a venture capital firm linked to Joshua Kushner.
- UEFA stated that no national teams will participate in any FIFA competition until the proposal is abandoned and binding assurances are given against future private ownership of competitions.
- The Asian Football Confederation and former FIFA President Sepp Blatter have also criticized the lack of consultation and the commercialization of the World Cup, with Blatter emphasizing that football belongs to the people.