The 55 member associations of UEFA have agreed to boycott both men's and women's World Cups if FIFA proceeds with its plan to sell stakes in the tournament. The decision was taken during a virtual crisis meeting chaired by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
The Proposal
FIFA president Gianni Infantino unveiled a proposal to create a new company called FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee commercial rights for every World Cup. Under the plan, FIFA's 211 member associations, including the English Football Association, have been promised windfalls of up to $40 million each if they agree by the September 19 deadline.
Reaction
The plan faced immediate criticism from governing bodies worldwide. UEFA said that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade." Other bodies from South America, Asia, and Concacaf also criticized the lack of consultation before the public announcement.
Infantino's Defense
In a statement, Infantino defended the plan, calling it "an opportunity but not an obligation." He added: "We believe that the FFE proposal would unlock the sport's potential in every corner of the world across men's, women's and youth football." He said distributions would rise to $20 million per association, with an additional $20 million possible through the FIFA Fast Forward Programme, calling it "a golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally."
