UEFA and its 55 associations have threatened a full FIFA boycott if president Gianni Infantino goes ahead with plans to sell off part of the World Cup to private investors.
Key facts
- European nations have agreed to boycott the World Cup, according to Sky News.
- The threat is tied to plans to sell part of the tournament to private investors.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino is named in relation to the sell-off plans.
- UEFA's 55 associations are behind the boycott threat, according to the BBC.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, has threatened a full boycott of the World Cup over FIFA’s plans to sell off part of the tournament to private investors, according to reporting from Sky News and the BBC.
Sky News reported that European nations have agreed to boycott the World Cup if FIFA president Gianni Infantino goes ahead with selling off part of the tournament to private investors.
The BBC reported that UEFA’s 55 associations are threatening a full FIFA boycott over the World Cup sale plans, indicating the stance has support across European football’s membership.
The sources frame the dispute as a direct response to the proposed involvement of private investors in the World Cup, a move that has prompted the coordinated threat from Europe’s football associations.
At this stage, the reporting establishes the existence of the boycott threat and its connection to the sell-off plans, but the sources do not detail the specifics of the proposed sale, its value or a timeline for any decision.
Why it matters
The World Cup is football's flagship tournament, and a boycott by Europe's 55 associations would strike at the heart of the competition's biggest teams and audiences. The standoff signals a significant rift between UEFA and FIFA over the commercial direction of the sport.
Frequently asked questions
Why is UEFA threatening to boycott the World Cup?
According to Sky News and the BBC, UEFA and its member associations are threatening a boycott over FIFA's plans to sell off part of the World Cup to private investors.
How many associations are behind the boycott threat?
The BBC reported that UEFA's 55 associations are behind the threat of a full FIFA boycott.
Who is leading the FIFA plans in question?
Sky News named FIFA president Gianni Infantino in connection with the plans to sell off part of the tournament to private investors.