England and fellow UEFA nations set to unanimously BOYCOTT World Cup after FIFA’s plans to sell shares to private investors
England and other UEFA nations are prepared to boycott the next World Cup should FIFA go ahead with their plans to sell shares of their flagship tournament.
Europe’s governing football body has been staunchly opposed to plans shared this week by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
In the wake of this summer’s World Cup, Infantino now plans to force FIFA’s associations to decide on the proposal by September 19.
But after a crisis meeting held on Thursday, England’s Football Associations and fellow UEFA members confirmed that they will boycott FIFA’s tournaments, including next summer’s Women’s World Cup, should the proposal receive the green light.
UEFA’s 55 member nations met virtually and their decision could all but kill FIFA’s plans due to the sway they hold in international football.
One international football insider told Daily Mail Sport: ‘this is at the nuclear button end of the spectrum, which is impressive’.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has condemned FIFA’s plans to allow private investors a share of the World Cup
Issuing a statement in the wake of the decision, UEFA underscored that the ‘World Cup is not for sale’ and called the secrecy around the plans ‘irresponsible and indefensible’.
On Wednesday, UEFA had accused FIFA of trying to bribe associations into agreeing with the proposals, which would see private investors procure a £3billion interest in the World Cup.
UEFA said: ‘Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.
‘But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.’
In another blow to the plan, the president of the Asian Federation Sheikh Salman wrote of his ‘great concern and disappointment’ in FIFA’s decision to prepare the plans without consultation.
CONCACAF, which represents 41 countries in North and Central America and the Caribbean, is another federation which has also expressed early skepticism in the wake of the bombshell plans.