European football’s governing body, UEFA, has unanimously agreed to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with plans to sell stakes in a newly created commercial subsidiary to private investors.
The decision was reached during an emergency online meeting involving UEFA’s 55 member associations on Thursday, as concerns mounted over FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to partially privatise the commercial rights linked to the World Cup.
The move follows reports that FIFA has offered each of its 211 member associations $20 million as part of a proposed $20 billion restructuring that would spin off its commercial operations, with private investors taking a 20 percent stake.
The investment is reportedly expected to be led by a New York-based venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA warned that its members would withdraw from FIFA tournaments unless the proposal is completely abandoned.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remai alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement.
“The World Cup cannotbe treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.
“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.”
UEFA’s warning comes just days before the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is due to kick off in Poland on September 5.
FIFA has yet to issue an official response to UEFA’s position.
Earlier on Thursday, Infantino described the proposal as optional rather than mandatory, insisting that member associations were not obliged to support it despite the growing backlash.
Opposition has also emerged from other football authorities. Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa criticised FIFA for failing to consult stakeholders, describing the process as “totally unacceptable” and warning that it undermines football’s continental governance structure.
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also condemned the proposal.
“Football belongs to no individual and to no institution. It belongs to the people,” Blatter told the news agency Reuters on Wednesday.
Support for UEFA’s stance has extended beyond football. Britain’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy backed the boycott decision.
“This is a principled decision that we strongly support,” Nandy said in a statement. “Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. Enough is enough. It’s time to take a stand to protect our game.”
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also criticised the proposal in a post on X earlier this week.
“Let me say this very directly. Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine,” Burnham said.
“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.
“Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will,” he added.
The growing opposition has cast fresh uncertainty over Infantino’s future as FIFA president.
With presidential nominations due to close on November 18 ahead of elections scheduled for next March in Rabat, Morocco, what had appeared to be a straightforward path to another term could now face significant obstacles as resistance intensifies across the football world.
The Football Supporters Europe group, which advises UEFA on fan-related issues, also reacted sharply to the developments, posting: “Game over, Gianni #InfantinOUT.”
UEFA concluded its statement by accusing FIFA of attempting to push through a far-reaching proposal without proper consultation.
“It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game,” the UEFA statement continued.
“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a ‘democratic decision’, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.
“But our opposition goes far beyond process.
“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
“This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.
“Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.
“Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
“There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.
“Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”
