FIFA

[Winston Biscuit]

I so badly want UEFA to just secede from FIFA

[WestYorksRoyal]

None of the problems of pulling out seem insurmountable. UEFA and FAs know their pools of licenced referees and could grant some sort of equivalence.

The feasibility needs to be worked through in detail so that in the crunch, UEFA can say to FIFA that the threat of walking is deadly serious.

FIFA's product is worth a fraction without the European teams. If we can convince the South Americans to join us then it's game over. FIFA needs to be reminded where the power really sits.

[Winston Biscuit]

UEFA to hold an emergency meeting of all 55 members later this week

Infantino says all 211 FIFA member associations will receive $40M if his plan goes ahead.

[Sutekh]

UEFA to hold an emergency meeting of all 55 members later this week

Infantino says all 211 FIFA member associations will receive $40M if his plan goes ahead.

[WestYorksRoyal]

UEFA to hold an emergency meeting of all 55 members later this week

Infantino says all 211 FIFA member associations will receive $40M if his plan goes ahead.

What the hell are the Kiribati and Vanuatu FAs going to do with $40m?

[South Coast Royal]

I don't get any talk of "growing the game".
It's as if we are talking about some minority sport but football is already the most watched and partaken-in sport in the world.

Obviously Infantino has spent too much time with the self-appointed ruler of the world.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Quick question. The deal is $10bn. $40m would go to 211 nations, so $8.44bn is used to "grow the game".

What is the remaining $1.56bn being used for? Could it give a potential clue to Infantino's motivations?

[genome]

Yeah fcuk it, walk away, and just hold the Euros every 2 years.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Quick question. The deal is $10bn. $40m would go to 211 nations, so $8.44bn is used to "grow the game".

What is the remaining $1.56bn being used for? Could it give a potential clue to Infantino's motivations?

I imagine that will be the CEO's salary, I'll be shocked to the core when that's announced to be Infantino.

[Winston Biscuit]

UEFA:

Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.

But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, UEFA knows there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.

[Winston Biscuit]

Romania kick off the fightback

[Winston Biscuit]

UEFA emergency meeting tomorrow at 2pm UK time

[Royal Rother]

UEFA to hold an emergency meeting of all 55 members later this week

Infantino says all 211 FIFA member associations will receive $40M if his plan goes ahead.

What the hell are the Kiribati and Vanuatu FAs going to do with $40m?

Indeed, the idea that they would give $40m to a nations with a population of 4,000 people (Montserrat) is just utter nonsense.

It would likely be illegal but vast swathes of money supposedly earmarked for smaller nations would go back into (be held by) the FIFA fund and somehow end up distributed as dividends (whatever) to its stakeholders.

[Sutekh]

Price of football podcast take on this ….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvF18fF0Vk41

Or Tim Vickery’s view if you’d rather….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy75y0eL33Q

Just to remind that FIFA is actually a registered charity that operates as a non profit organisation under Swiss law.

[Green]

UEFA emergency meeting tomorrow at 2pm UK time

FIFA must be shitting it

[Winston Biscuit]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -infantino

AFC (Asia) also unimpressed:

“The AFC notes with great concern and disappointment that it was not consulted by Fifa at any level prior to the public announcement of this proposal, and nor has it received any detailed governance, financial or legal analysis of the proposal and its potential repercussions, which is totally unacceptable,” he wrote.

“Furthermore, the AFC is deeply concerned that Fifa’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football, which are based on solidarity, cooperation and transparency. Moreover, such an initiative will not succeed without the support of all the confederations, which is not the case now.”

Al-Khalifa also called on Fifa to alter their timetable after Infantino gave national associations a deadline of 19 September to decide whether to accept an initial payment of $20m (£15m) that would be generated by the sale.

“The AFC is surprised that the current timeline allows an extremely limited period for consideration of a proposal of such significance, when such decisions should never be rushed, and it is imperative that all factors be considered and debated,” he wrote.

“The AFC firmly believes that sufficient time must be afforded for a comprehensive assessment, including appropriate legal and governance due diligence, meaningful consultation and careful consideration of the long-term implications of such an initiative.

“Above all, it is essential that the appropriate Fifa bodies be involved in the decision-making process and that the matter is handled at all times in accordance with the Fifa Statutes and the highest standards of ethics and good governance.”

[Stranded]

So it seems one of the plans in the dossier released by JP Morgan is that more money will be made by playing more tournaments.

In other words, more World Cups - which of course would squeeze out continental tournaments such as the Euros, if the WC were to switch to a 2 year cycle.

[Winston Biscuit]

UEFA nations agree to boycott the world cup if Infantino goes ahead with his plan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... y67zrrdddo

[Winston Biscuit]

UEFA Statement:

UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We 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. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.

It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.

National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.

But our opposition goes far beyond process.

The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.

This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.

Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.

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.

Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.

There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.

Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.

[genome]

Fair fcuks!