UEFA condemns FIFA plan to sell World Cup rights as ‘using our sport to enrich friends’

UEFA has launched a blistering attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of trying to turn football into a “commodity” and of using the sport “to enrich himself and his circle of friends” through a controversial plan to sell stakes in the game’s biggest competitions to private investors.

In its most forceful intervention since the row erupted, European football’s governing body said Infantino’s proposal to create a commercial company holding the rights to major tournaments – headed by the World Cup – and then sell shares in that vehicle laid bare the true intent behind the project.

UEFA’s statement came after Infantino wrote to FIFA’s 211 member associations, offering each federation $40m if they back his plan, including an immediate $20m payment for any association that signs up before a deadline he set for 19 September.

Infantino warned in his message that rejecting the proposal would mean overall revenues available to the member associations dropping to $2.7bn – a fall of around 75% compared with the projections under his scheme. That stance has been widely interpreted within the game as a form of financial pressure, and the English FA, along with several other major federations, has expressed deep concern over the approach.

UEFA attacks FIFA deadline and ‘exceptional payment’

Responding on Wednesday with a sharply worded but brief communique, UEFA criticised both the financial structure and the timescale being imposed on national associations.

“We learned today of the deadline that FIFA has imposed on the federations to support its proposals or else lose the exceptional payment,” UEFA said. “This alone tells you everything you need to know about this plan.”

The European body said discussions with stakeholders across the game showed mounting resistance to the project.

“After our consultations with all stakeholders in the game, we can confirm that there is widespread and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme,” the statement continued. “FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich itself and its friends.”

European associations to coordinate collective response

UEFA insists that football can be developed and grown without resorting to what it sees as a form of privatisation of the World Cup and other flagship events.

“We are capable of growing the game properly, and it is time to put the interests of the federations, clubs, competitions, players and fans first,” the statement added.

The escalating dispute now moves to a crucial meeting on Thursday, when the 55 UEFA member associations are due to gather to forge a united stance and prepare a collective reply to Infantino’s project, which within Europe is widely viewed as an attempt to privatise the World Cup.

That summit is expected to shape the next phase of the power struggle between FIFA and UEFA over control of football’s most lucrative properties, and over how far private investment should be allowed into the heart of the international game.