UEFA and its 55 member associations have unanimously rejected FIFA's reported proposal to allow private investors to acquire ownership interests in the FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions, warning they will boycott FIFA tournaments unless the plan is abandoned.
In a joint statement, UEFA and its 55 national associations said they "stand as one" in opposing FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors, Caliber.Az reports.
"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product," the statement said. "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 criticised FIFA for allegedly developing the proposal without consulting key stakeholders, calling the process "irresponsible and indefensible."
"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 statement noted.
It added that this is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA's duty as the custodian of world football.
The European governing body argued that member associations had effectively been presented with an ultimatum to either accept the proposal or face 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," UEFA remarked.
According to the statement, allowing outside investors to acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions would permanently shift decision-making away from football's interests toward maximising shareholder returns.
"The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever," UEFA stressed.
In its view, 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.
UEFA insisted that football's future "cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return" and warned against subordinating the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters to those of investors.
The organization said Europe's position was unequivocal.
"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," the statement said.
UEFA also warned that its member associations would withdraw from FIFA competitions if the proposal moves forward.
"As a result of today's discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain 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," the statement explained.
Concluding the statement, UEFA declared its determination to resist the proposal.
"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."
By Bakhtiyar Abbasov
