UEFA’s 55 member associations will hold an emergency meeting later this week to discuss FIFA’s controversial proposal to sell stakes in its major competitions to external investors.
The virtual meeting follows FIFA’s announcement of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary that would manage its flagship tournaments, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups as well as the Club World Cup. Under the proposal, outside investors would be allowed to acquire stakes in the new entity as part of FIFA’s strategy to boost revenue for global football.
FIFA said the initiative would enable it to increase global football development funding to $10 billion, while giving each of its 211 member associations access to up to $20 million in one-off capital.
However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA. According to BBC Sport, the European governing body issued a rare public statement opposing the plan even before FIFA formally unveiled it, arguing that it had “crossed a line” by potentially handing private investors excessive influence over football’s most prestigious competitions.
The Football Association (FA) has also voiced concerns, stating that it was not consulted before FIFA announced the proposals.
The emergency meeting is expected to provide UEFA’s member associations with an opportunity to coordinate a collective response. Reports suggest that the possibility of a boycott could be discussed, although no formal decision has been taken.
UEFA maintains that its member associations remain crucial to the success of FIFA tournaments. European teams have consistently dominated recent World Cups, with six of the eight quarter-finalists at this year’s competition coming from Europe, including eventual champions Spain.
Critics have also warned that the proposal could accelerate efforts to stage more frequent World Cups and expand major tournaments as FIFA seeks to maximize commercial returns, placing additional strain on an already crowded international football calendar.
The latest disagreement adds to the growing tensions between FIFA and UEFA, following previous disputes over proposals for a biennial World Cup and other controversial decisions surrounding this summer’s tournaments.
