UEFA threatens FIFA tournament boycott over commercial rights plan

GENEVA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- UEFA on Thursday opposed FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in a subsidiary managing the commercial rights to the World Cup and other major competitions, warning that its member association teams would withdraw from FIFA tournaments unless the plan is scrapped.

FIFA recently announced a plan to establish a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to manage the commercial rights to major competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, with part of the company's equity to be sold to external investors.

FIFA said it would retain sole control of the subsidiary and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions. It added that outside investors would hold only minority stakes, have no operational role and would be investing in a FIFA subsidiary rather than FIFA itself.

Under the plan, regular FIFA Forward funding would rise from the currently budgeted eight million dollars per association to 20 million dollars for the 2027-30 cycle, followed by 22 million and 24 million dollars in the subsequent two cycles.

Separately, member associations could apply for an optional one-off payment of up to 20 million dollars for specific projects.

The funding would support infrastructure, coaching, member association teams, competitions, grassroots football and the women's game. FIFA said the proposal could bring its total planned development spending to more than 10 billion dollars over the next four years.

The proposal has triggered widespread debate across the football world. UEFA said in a strongly worded statement that it and its 55 member associations "stand as one" and "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," UEFA said. "No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

UEFA warned that allowing external investors to acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions could fundamentally change football, with commercial returns and investor expectations potentially influencing decisions on the international calendar, competition formats and the future direction of the game.

It threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments if FIFA refuses to revoke the relevant proposals.

"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," UEFA said.

CONCACAF also announced on Thursday that it would oppose the proposal, saying that during a meeting, "the membership expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies."

In a statement, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said it "was not consulted on the proposal and is disappointed that a matter of such significance entered the public domain before the AFC family had been afforded the opportunity to examine and discuss it through the appropriate and established governance channels."

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said they would hold meetings soon to evaluate the proposal, while the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has yet to issue a public statement.

In contrast, Indonesian Football Association President Erick Thohir voiced support, saying the proposal could provide crucial additional funding for football infrastructure and youth development in developing countries and regions across Asia and Africa. ■