FIFA

[Winston Biscuit]

Infantino will surely have anticipated this. I wonder what his plan is. Just plough on ahead with the vote? (Which i think he still may win)

[Royal Rother]

Infantino will surely have anticipated this. I wonder what his plan is. Just plough on ahead with the vote? (Which i think he still may win)

Win what?

Without UEFA the investors won’t be interested so it seems to me like it’s already a dead duck.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Infantino will surely have anticipated this. I wonder what his plan is. Just plough on ahead with the vote? (Which i think he still may win)

He will have anticipated opposition, but probably bet that UEFA would fall short of the nuclear option.

Hard to see his next move. No competition is worthwhile without Europe's participation.

[Winston Biscuit]

Infantino will surely have anticipated this. I wonder what his plan is. Just plough on ahead with the vote? (Which i think he still may win)

Win what?

There is a vote by FIFA members on 19th September, which only needs over 50% to go ahead and approve his plan. Maybe he will still go ahead with that thinking its his leverage. Maybe he will remove the 55 UEFA numbers from the calculations in order to help get it through.

[genome]

His position is untenable surely. Which investors are going to give him money for a World Cup with most of the best teams in the world not in it?

[Uke]

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.

Over to you CONCACAF

[Sutekh]

Infantino will surely have anticipated this. I wonder what his plan is. Just plough on ahead with the vote? (Which i think he still may win)

Win what?

Without UEFA the investors won’t be interested so it seems to me like it’s already a dead duck.

If UEFA effectively boycotts the 2030 World Cup then that’s the end of the entire competition. Investors aren’t going to be interested in what’s left.

If he still proceeds with this idea then he’ll lose the vote and then both him and whatever sorry mess that remains of FIFA will crash and burn. So I say carry on Gerry and try & see it through…

UEFA isn’t perfect by a long way but at least it’s standing up for the right thing at the moment

[WestYorksRoyal]

What even happens to the 2030 world cup which is mainly hosted by Spain and Portugal? If they want to forge on a brave new world without Europe then they need to find a new host.

UEFA have killed the proposal imo. I just can’t see how it's viable now. Who knows what it means for Infantino. He's been emasculated.

[Sutekh]

What even happens to the 2030 world cup which is mainly hosted by Spain and Portugal? If they want to forge on a brave new world without Europe then they need to find a new host.

UEFA have killed the proposal imo. I just can’t see how it's viable now. Who knows what it means for Infantino. He's been emasculated.

He must have known that would happen esp. as UEFA don’t exactly get on with FIFA terribly well these days. Now he’s got to run back and review his plans and no doubt put them on hiatus for 6 months while he works out a better way to present them to everyone so no doubt it’ll all be back on the table soon. Trouble is now is his position untenable after this mess and his seemingly allowing politics to run the World Cup.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Looking forward to Infantino's toys out of the pram response.

[Winston Biscuit]

I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Infantino says they will continue with the vote.

[Uke]

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.

Over to you CONCACAF

Statement on behalf of Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations
Concacaf is a confederation united by the love of our game, where football comes first. Guided by this philosophy over the past ten years we have built, from the ground up, an organization founded on service, transparent governance, and the long-term stewardship of football.

History has shown FIFA and the football family what happens when the custodians of the game lose sight of these values.

With this in mind, Concacaf today convened a meeting of the presidents of its 41 Member Associations, together with its President, Council members, and its FIFA Council members, to discuss a proposal developed and presented by the FIFA President to establish ‘FIFA Forward Enterprise’ and sell interests in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.

During the 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 addition, the need for private equity investment to fund new and existing FIFA Forward programs following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history was questioned.

The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance.

For these reasons, Concacaf and its 41 Member Associations have:

Rejected the proposal;
Tasked their FIFA Council Members with engaging FIFA to determine how existing vast FIFA reserves could be used to increase FIFA Forward funding for football development across our region; and
Tasked their FIFA Council Members with instructing the FIFA President to ensure that any matter follows the proper governance processes via staff and FIFA Council, in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.
Through these actions, Concacaf reaffirms that football's future—and its greatest asset—must remain in the hands of our football family.

[Winston Biscuit]

Infantino confirms FIFA are still moving ahead with their plans

[WestYorksRoyal]

Infantino confirms FIFA are still moving ahead with their plans

Let's see what his would be investors think.

[Sutekh]

Infantino confirms FIFA are still moving ahead with their plans

[Stranded]

Infantino confirms FIFA are still moving ahead with their plans

Given his only other realistic choice is resignation and he clearly enjoys the money and power too much to do that, this was always going to be his plan.

He will try and call UEFAs bluff, esp as the amount of money involved becomes more real.

As mentioned elsewhere, Poland hosts the Womens u20 WC in just over a month, so if UEFA are serious and the plans are still live, that should be the first boycott.

[Sutekh]

Infantino confirms FIFA are still moving ahead with their plans

Given his only other realistic choice is resignation and he clearly enjoys the money and power too much to do that, this was always going to be his plan.

He will try and call UEFAs bluff, esp as the amount of money involved becomes more real.

As mentioned elsewhere, Poland hosts the Womens u20 WC in just over a month, so if UEFA are serious and the plans are still live, that should be the first boycott.

Yes it should as it would show up to FIFA that UEFA mean business, although it’s being hosted by Poland who would have put a lot of time and money into its organisation so they’d need some serious compensation.

[Winston Biscuit]

As I saw pointed out by a journo this morning, among many things that show this FIFA proposal up for what it really is, is the promise to all Fifa members that they will get $20M each of the money pretty quickly if they vote this through, but claiming that this $20M is for 'long term development projects', and then only giving members 53 days from making them aware of its existence to having the vote, meaning there would be no real time to undertake the required planning and costing that should be involved in long term development projects, along with overseeing what these are and approving that they do meet the description of 'development'

If they were truly trying to help with long term development, it wouldn't be a nice round same $20M for everyone no matter who they are, there would be the required time factored in to work through the plans, and FIFA would be involved in helping and approving that the money can be allocated to it, along with follow ups to be sure the plans are followed

[Stranded]

As I saw pointed out by a journo this morning, among many things that show this FIFA proposal up for what it really is, is the promise to all Fifa members that they will get $20M each of the money pretty quickly if they vote this through, but claiming that this $20M is for 'long term development projects', and then only giving members 53 days from making them aware of its existence to having the vote, meaning there would be no real time to undertake the required planning and costing that should be involved in long term development projects, along with overseeing what these are and approving that they do meet the description of 'development'

If they were truly trying to help with long term development, it wouldn't be a nice round same $20M for everyone no matter who they are, there would be the required time factored in to work through the plans, and FIFA would be involved in helping and approving that the money can be allocated to it, along with follow ups to be sure the plans are followed

Everyone knows it is essentially a bung to get the deal approved, they just can't call it that.

[Winston Biscuit]

AFC (Asia) saying FIFA need to stop their current plan and also undertake 'an urgent review of its governance'