FIFA issue furious response to UEFA over threats to boycott World Cup

FIFA have issued a response to UEFA after European football's governing body stated they would boycott if a planned external investment plan went ahead.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Tuesday that he planned to sell stakes of major tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors.

Infantino aims to raise over $20 billion through the private investment route, with US-based Thrive Capital - owned by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner - expected to lead a proposed investor group.

Unsurprisingly, the announcement went down like a lead balloon with many, despite Infantino's promise to offer $40 million to national associations that backed his plan by September 19.

UEFA's 55 member associations held an emergency meeting on Thursday and subsequently announced that they would boycott the World Cup if Infantino's plans go ahead.

The 41 member associations of CONCACAF have also rejected the plan, but stopped short of announcing a boycott.

READ MORE: United States among 41 new nations to reject FIFA's World Cup sell-off plan as statement issued

UEFA's action applies to men's and women's World Cups, which may create an almost immediate issue in October when the first leg of UEFA's Women's World Cup play-offs take place. England are among the teams in those play-offs.

UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister told BBC that the governing body had 'no choice other than issue a threat commensurate with this dreadful, catastrophic proposal', but added that she felt 'optimistic' that the proposal would not go ahead.

She went on to accuse FIFA of 'a form of blackmail financially' over their monetary offers to individual member associations.

"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product," UEFA said in an official statement.

"It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors.

READ NEXT: FA issue statement on UEFA's World Cup boycott plan

"The World Cup is not for sale."

'Everyone has the right...' - FIFA respond to UEFA boycott threat, other associations

In a lengthy statement issued in the early hours of Friday morning, FIFA said that 'nobody is selling football' and further detailed the planned investment process, indicating that it will indeed move forwards at the consultation stage.

"We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday," the statement begins.

"We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation. Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA [member association] has the ability to express its vote based on facts."

The statement went on to claim that each member association will 'have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries', before appearing to take a direct swipe at UEFA's joint statement.

"Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world.

"Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA."

After re-iterating the main parts of the proposal, the statement continues: "These components represent the starting point of the consultation process and are open for discussion as part of that process. This can include approval, rejection or amendment in their entirety or individually.

"These principles underpin the FFE proposal: unprecedented development funding, truly global ownership of the commercial opportunities of our sport, and full self-determination through a democratic process for all MAs."