CORNERFLICK
Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell part of the organisation’s equity to private investors has triggered a sharp response from Uefa and raised the prospect of a European boycott of Fifa tournaments.
Uefa prepares emergency talks
Uefa members are due to meet virtually in the coming days to discuss their opposition to Infantino’s proposal to create a new commercial company with outside investors.
In a statement, Uefa said Fifa had crossed a line that football’s governing bodies should never pass. It urged leagues, clubs, players, fans and governments to take a stand, arguing that football’s spirit and governance are not a commodity to be bought and sold.
The statement also criticised the lack of transparency over who would benefit from the deal.
Boycott threat put on the table
According to a source quoted by Sky, the possibility of European countries boycotting Fifa competitions is being taken seriously. The first test of the dispute could come at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
It is not the first time European pressure has forced Fifa to back down. In 2021, the body abandoned plans to stage the World Cup every two years after Uefa threatened that European teams could stay away.