Europe’s football associations have delivered a unanimous ultimatum to Fifa, threatening to withdraw from all major competitions if plans to sell off the World Cup proceed.
England’s Football Association joined all 54 other Uefa member associations at an emergency summit to discuss Fifa’s controversial commercial proposal.
The vote was unanimous, with every Uefa nation agreeing to boycott future World Cups, the Club World Cup, and the Women’s World Cup if Fifa pushes ahead.
Uefa issued a stark collective statement, saying: “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 statement went further, declaring: “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.”
Uefa was unambiguous about the consequences for Fifa if it refuses to back down from the scheme.
“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,” the body stated.
The FA also issued its own statement in support, saying: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support the collective view. We oppose Fifa’s plans — the Fifa World Cup belongs to football and always will.”
At the heart of the dispute is Fifa’s proposal to raise $4 billion by selling around 20 per cent of a new commercial vehicle called Fifa Forward Enterprise, with proceeds promised to all 211 member associations.
Fifa had planned to put the scheme to a member vote in September, promising to treble payouts to national associations as an incentive to secure support.
Details of the plan leaked earlier this week, triggering an immediate backlash from football associations, continental federations, leagues, clubs, and player unions who all condemned the lack of consultation.
The only proposed investor named so far is Thrive Eternal, a vehicle owned by Joshua Kushner, whose elder brother is the son-in-law of Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s ally, President Trump.
Infantino has already faced scrutiny over his relationship with Trump, whom he awarded the first ever Fifa Peace Prize last year and has accompanied on state business.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was quick to condemn the sell-off proposal, and the European Commission has raised the prospect of attempting to block the plan through competition law.
Uefa, which holds significant sway as home to world football’s top clubs and largest media markets, closed its statement with a firm declaration: “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.”