All 55 UEFA member associations could boycott the next World Cup after FIFA announced plans to create a new commercial entity allowing external investors to buy into its tournaments, including the World Cup. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has condemned the move, saying "football does not belong to investors" and that the World Cup is "not a product."
FIFA's controversial plan
FIFA wants to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a separate commercial arm that would sell stakes in its flagship events. The governing body insists it will retain "exclusive authority" over governance, competitions, and the match calendar, and claims the plan would boost development funding for national associations to over £7.5 billion in the next four years.
However, UEFA has strongly criticised the proposal, calling it a line that "football's governing institutions should never cross." In a statement, UEFA said: "The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade, especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell."
Emergency meeting and potential boycott
This week, UEFA's 55 member associations, including the Football Association of Wales, will hold an emergency meeting to discuss a possible boycott of the next World Cup. Although European countries represent only a quarter of FIFA's 211 members, they dominate the sport: six of the eight quarter-finalists at the last World Cup were European. A tournament without European teams would lose significant value.
Andy Burnham's response
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, an Everton fan, weighed in with a strong statement: "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. 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."
European nations are expected to at least consider the most extreme measure: boycotting the World Cup entirely. FIFA's assurances have done little to calm the growing anger.
