European football's 55 national associations voted 55-0 at an emergency meeting to boycott FIFA competitions unless FIFA drops plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
Key facts
- UEFA's 55 member associations voted 55-0 to boycott FIFA competitions.
- The vote came at an emergency meeting held on Thursday.
- The boycott is conditional on FIFA proceeding with plans to sell stakes in its competitions.
- UEFA members said the World Cup 'cannot be treated as an investment product', according to the Guardian.
- The meeting was held virtually, according to Al Jazeera.
European football’s governing body UEFA has agreed to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with plans to sell stakes in its competitions, according to the BBC.
The decision was made at an emergency meeting held on Thursday, where UEFA’s 55 member associations voted unanimously in favour of the boycott. According to the Guardian, the vote passed 55-0.
The proposed boycott is a direct response to what the Guardian described as FIFA’s plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup. The Guardian reported that member associations expressed the view that the ‘World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product’.
Al Jazeera reported that European nations agreed to the boycott during a virtual meeting, framing the move as a protest against a private equity plan for the World Cup.
Al Jazeera further reported that the plans in question are associated with FIFA under Infantino, and that the boycott would apply to FIFA competitions should those World Cup plans be pursued.
The boycott is conditional: UEFA has agreed to withhold participation until FIFA drops the plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup, according to the Guardian. The sources indicate the situation remains developing, with the Guardian noting its story would update.
Why it matters
UEFA represents the national associations of Europe, whose teams and revenues are central to the World Cup, so a unanimous boycott threat could directly affect the tournament's future. The standoff reflects a broader debate over whether major sporting events should be opened to private investment.
Frequently asked questions
What did UEFA members vote on?
UEFA's 55 member associations voted to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with plans to sell stakes in its competitions. According to the Guardian, the vote passed 55-0.
Why are UEFA members opposed to the plans?
According to the Guardian, member associations said the World Cup 'cannot be treated as an investment product'. Al Jazeera described the plans as a private equity proposal for the World Cup.
When did the vote take place?
The vote took place at an emergency meeting held on Thursday, which Al Jazeera reported was conducted virtually.