FA issues statement as UEFA nations threaten World Cup boycott over FIFA sell-off

The Football Association (FA) has responded after UEFA released a statement outlining its plans to boycott all FIFA competitions over the proposed World Cup sell-off.

Gianni Infantino and FIFA have proposed plans to “invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments” in a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), with the aim of overseeing the commercial rights for every future tournament.

The FIFA president then set a deadline of September 19 for all 211 member associations, pledging £30 million if they back his plan to sell off stakes in the organisation's flagship competition.

Those who accept and meet the deadline have been promised an initial £15 million.

It has been widely reported that Infantino will financially benefit from the plans, with several football associations across the globe raising major concerns.

Reacting to the news, UEFA accused FIFA of crossing a line and said that football “is not FIFA’s to sell”.

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FIFA aims to raise up to £3.1 billion from investors by selling minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE, which the organisation values at around £15 billion.

For the plan to be passed, a vote involving all 211 FIFA member associations needs to take place.

On Thursday (July 30), UEFA published another statement detailing plans to boycott FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups, if the plans are approved.

UEFA’s proposed boycott is backed by all 55 member associations following an emergency meeting chaired by UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.

Part of UEFA’s latest statement read: “Europe’s position is clear.

"We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.

"As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.

"Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.”

FA responds to UEFA World Cup boycott plans

Later on Thursday, the FA responded with a statement of its own explaining its stance on the matter.

An FA spokesperson said: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support the collective view.

“We oppose FIFA’s plans – the FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will.”

This came after the FA released an earlier statement stating it was “deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point.”