UEFA’s 55 member associations will hold an emergency meeting later this week to discuss FIFA’s controversial proposal to open its flagship competitions to external investment.
The virtual meeting follows FIFA’s announcement of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary that would oversee the commercial rights to its major tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup. Under the proposal, outside investors would be allowed to acquire stakes in the new entity as FIFA seeks to boost revenue for the global game.
According to FIFA, the initiative could increase its global football development fund to $10 billion while providing each of its 211 member associations with access to up to $20 million in one-off capital.
However, the proposal has been met with fierce resistance from UEFA. According to BBC Sport, European football’s governing body issued a rare public statement criticizing the plan even before FIFA formally unveiled it, describing the proposal as one that had “crossed a line” and warning it could hand private investors excessive influence over football’s most prestigious competitions.
The emergency meeting is expected to give UEFA’s member associations an opportunity to coordinate their response. Reports indicate that the possibility of a boycott could be discussed, although no formal decision has been taken.
UEFA maintains that its member associations are integral to the success of FIFA competitions. European teams have consistently dominated the World Cup, with six of the eight quarter-finalists at this year’s tournament hailing from Europe, including eventual champions Spain.
Opponents of the proposal also argue that private investment could accelerate efforts to stage more frequent World Cups and expand existing tournaments in pursuit of greater commercial returns, placing even more strain on an already crowded international football calendar.
The latest disagreement adds to the growing tension between FIFA and UEFA, whose relationship has been tested in recent years by disputes over proposals for a biennial World Cup and other contentious decisions surrounding the global football calendar.
