UEFA is preparing to hold an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations to discuss potential action, including a World Cup boycott, in response to FIFA’s proposal to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors (espn.com.au). The move has sparked significant backlash, with UEFA leaders warning that the plan undermines the integrity of international football.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed a $20 billion plan to create a subsidiary for the World Cup, offering up to 20% stakes to external investors. The initiative aims to modernize football finance but has been widely criticized as a threat to the sport’s independence (rediff.com). The Asian Football Confederation has called the plan “unacceptable,” arguing it could destabilize the continent’s football structure (aljazeera.com).
The proposal has also drawn criticism from within FIFA’s own ranks. A former official, Pinnick, defended the plan, citing UEFA’s past financial reforms, but his comments have been met with skepticism (vanguardngr.com). Despite the controversy, some analysts suggest the plan may still proceed, even amid strong opposition from UEFA and fans (tuko.co.ke).
