UEFA has issued a second statement hitting out at FIFA’s controversial plan to sell shares in its competitions to private investors
UEFA have criticised FIFA with another statement in response to the football governing body’s controversial plans to sell the rights to the World Cup.
The statement from UEFA has criticised the plans, saying the scheme is designed to ‘enrich themselves and their friends’.
UEFA are expected to host an emergency meeting between the European football chiefs to discuss the plans put forward by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, which would see private investors purchase shares in its competitions, including the World Cup and Women’s World Cup.
The first statement from UEFA stated that FIFA had “crossed a line” after reports of the plans initially emerged. Reports have since claimed that FIFA have written to the 211 member associations in UEFA to promise they will be awarded $40m (£30m) if they support the controversial scheme.
UEFA members are also said to have been told to support the proposals by September 19 in order to receive an initial payment of $20m (£15m) by January 1.
A statement read: “Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn.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.”
At the forthcoming emergency meeting, UEFA could consider boycotting the World Cup in what would represent a dramatic step.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was absent from the men’s final earlier this month amid growing tensions with FIFA. The next World Cup on the horizon is the women’s tournament in Brazil next year.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
It should be highlighted that FIFA operates as a not-for-profit organisation and is owned by its 211 member associations. FIFA therefore benefits from tax-exempt status in Switzerland, where its headquarters are based.
FIFA maintains that, should external investment materialise, it would retain complete control over football governance, its competitions and the international match calendar, as well as all sporting and regulatory decisions.
It adds that the investment would flow into a FIFA subsidiary rather than FIFA itself.
Infantino remarked in FIFA’s announcement – released after its plan was leaked: “Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development.
“Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game … our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world.”