UEFA's pledge to boycott FIFA tournaments has seemingly put the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup at risk. The governing body of European football released an imposing statement in response to Gianni Infantino's plan.
Infantino's plan and UEFA's response
The president of FIFA recently unearthed plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors, promising to earn more money for each member nation who expresses support for his idea by September 19. This has been pushed back in the strongest possible way by UEFA and the FA, who insisted all of the 55 member nations will boycott all FIFA competitions for as long as this idea is still alive.
It was a firm statement which came after a meeting held by UEFA president Alexander Ceferin. Assuming UEFA is true to its word, it appears the U20 Women's World Cup is at risk of becoming the first FIFA competition to be affected by this civil war.
Tournament details
On September 5, the competition is set to begin with the final taking place 22 days later. The competition is being held in Poland and will feature 24 teams from all six FIFA confederations. Out of all of the nations in the group, six are from UEFA as Poland, Italy, England, Portugal, France and Spain are all expected to compete in the tournament. The other nations involved are Argentina, Mexico, Benin, Japan, New Zealand, the USA, Brazil, Tanzania, Canada, North Korea, Costa Rica, Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, Ghana, Nigeria, New Caledonia and China.
At present, it's currently unclear as to what will happen with the competition. UEFA have made it clear they have no intention in representing any of their member nations in FIFA tournaments for as long as this idea is still going. Considering Infantino's hard deadline to express support is September 19, it's possible the boycott could last until then and beyond. The Swiss football figurehead has also claimed his idea only needs support from just over 50 per cent of its members for the idea to run.
UEFA's firm stance
With 55 nations expressing their firm opposition to the idea, Infantino has already lost a firm chunk of potential support. However, other Confederations which include CONCACAF (North American nations), CONMEBOL (South American), the CAF (African Confederation) and Oceania are yet to make their feelings known.
What is clear from UEFA's intervention is that they want the idea to be quashed, quickly. In their statement, they wrote: "UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions. UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
"The World Cup cannot be 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."
"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. 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."
"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. 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."
