UEFA will hold an emergency meeting at 2pm today, Thursday, July 30, to discuss a potential World Cup boycott in protest against Gianni Infantino's plans to privatise the tournament. The proposals have received major backlash from those across Europe.
Opposition from European Stakeholders
The Football Association, European Leagues, European Football Clubs, the Union of European Clubs, the Football Supporters Association and Football Supporters Europe have all released strong statements in protest, calling for major change at the top of FIFA.
Infantino recently unveiled plans to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events like the World Cup, and claims its 211 member associations will receive 40m US dollars (£30m) under those plans. However, Infantino has set a September 19 deadline for access to an initial $20m (£15m).
Infantino Defends Proposals
Associations within UEFA have been left infuriated by Infantino's privatisation plans, how it has been presented to football federations and the 53-day timeframe given, with those who agree to the terms being given guaranteed higher returns.
Infantino defended the proposals in an interview on Wednesday, claiming they provide "a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally." He added: "The fans remain the cornerstone of the beautiful game, and the sport they watch and love will not change. FIFA obviously continues to govern football without any external interference. We want to help creating the next 'Cabo Verdes'."
"Fans from everywhere in the world, would gain immeasurably from this game-changing potential because it will transform football in their countries. But again, it is simply a choice for our members."
UEFA Responds
European football's governing body UEFA responded in a statement: "Today we have learned of FIFA's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off pay out offer withdrawn.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 prioritize associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans."
UEFA's Trump Card
UEFA have reportedly been in contact with European Commission to discuss how Infantino's plan can be challenged, and former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios believes UEFA holds a trump card over FIFA.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Palios said: "UEFA have a real card to play, and that is if they don't turn up at the next World Cup that's going to be an absolute financial disaster for FIFA, in the sense that you're not going to get the sponsorships, the eyeballs, and so forth."
"If you don't have Spain, France, England, Germany there, then it's not going to be anything like the spectacle that it normally is."
"There's a consequence, that's the major card they have to play and I hope they do play that. There's a real danger that this crosses the line. The ideal of sport is being suffocated by the raison d'etre of business."
"I would hope (UEFA nations) would all be on the same page, but there are a lot of small FAs within FIFA. They all have one vote, which was part of the strength that (former FIFA president) Sepp Blatter had for so many years in terms of garnering their support."
"And, of course, these smaller FAs do benefit from this in terms of some fairly large amounts of cash."
