UEFA has released a second statement condemning FIFA's controversial proposal to sell shares in its competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The European football body described the plan as designed to 'enrich themselves and their friends'.
This comes ahead of an emergency UEFA meeting where European football chiefs will discuss FIFA President Gianni Infantino's scheme. After the plans were leaked on Tuesday, UEFA initially claimed that FIFA had 'crossed a line'.
FIFA's $40m promise and deadline
According to reports, FIFA has written to its 211 member associations offering $40m (£30m) if they back the controversial plan. The members have until September 19 to respond positively, or they will lose access to an initial $20m (£15m) by January 1. UEFA stated that the deadline 'says everything you need to know about this plan'.
A UEFA 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'Today we have learned of FIFA's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn.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.'
UEFA added: '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.'
Possible World Cup boycott
At the upcoming emergency meeting, UEFA could discuss boycotting the World Cup, a drastic move. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin missed the men's final earlier this month amid tensions with FIFA. The next World Cup is the women's edition in Brazil next year.
FIFA, a not-for-profit organisation owned by its 211 members, enjoys tax-free status in Switzerland. FIFA insists that with outside investment, it would retain sole control over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar, and all sporting and regulatory decisions. The investment would go into a FIFA subsidiary, not FIFA itself.
Infantino's defence
Infantino commented in FIFA's announcement: '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.'
