The European Football Association (UEFA) and its 55 member nations have expressed strong opposition to the FIFA's plan to sell stakes in World Cup-related businesses. They warned that European national teams would not participate in FIFA events, including the World Cup, if the plan is not retracted.
According to Reuters on July 30, the UEFA member nations unanimously supported a boycott of FIFA events during an emergency meeting.
In a statement, UEFA declared, “We firmly reject the plan to transfer stakes in World Cup and other FIFA-related businesses to private investors,” adding, “If the plan is not completely withdrawn, UEFA teams will not participate in FIFA events.”
The controversy stems from FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to establish a new subsidiary. FIFA plans to assign the rights to broadcast major tournaments, sponsorships, and ticket sales to this new company, with plans to sell a portion of its shares to private investors. The subsidiary is estimated to be valued at around $20 billion.
UEFA argued that allowing private investors to hold stakes in FIFA-related businesses could prioritize investment returns over the sport itself. They emphasized, “The World Cup is not an investment product and should not be treated as such.”
If European nations proceed with the boycott, it could significantly impact FIFA, as Europe represents a key market for global football and contributes a substantial share of revenue from World Cup broadcasting rights and sponsorships.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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