Rabat –Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), unanimously rejected FIFA’s proposal to allow private investors to acquire ownership stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions, warning that European national teams could boycott all FIFA tournaments if the plan is implemented.
Supported by all its 55 member associations, UEFA described the World Cup as one of football’s most valuable sporting legacies, emphasizing that the global tournament belongs to the game and should never become a battleground for profit-hungry individuals or companies.
Football and the World Cup are “not for sale,” insisted the governing body of European football, stressing it will categorically reject any attempt to transfer part of its ownership of the tournament to private investors.
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UEFA further criticized FIFA’s proposal by claiming it was prepared behind closed doors without proper consultation with national associations.
It argued that the process lacked transparency and accused FIFA of failing to protect the interests of world football.
According to the European body, national federations were effectively given two choices: accept the privatization of FIFA’s flagship competitions or face the consequences.Such an approach undermines democratic governance and places unnecessary pressure on member associations, it said.
UEFA warned that introducing private ownership into FIFA competitions would have long-term consequences for the sport. Decisions regarding the international calendar, tournament formats, and the future development of football could eventually be influenced by investors seeking financial returns rather than by what is best for the game, it argued.
Reaffirming its position, the governing body of European football vowed that no European national team would participate in FIFA competitions if the proposal remains in place.
UEFA added that it would only reconsider its position only if FIFA completely withdraws the project and provides guarantees that private ownership will never be introduced into its competitions.
The European Union of Football reaffirmed that the FIFA World Cup belongs to football and pledged to oppose any initiative that could turn the tournament into a commercial investment project, stressing its commitment to preserving the competition’s sporting integrity and historic value.
