UEFA issue unprecedented statement after Gianni Infantino scraps World Cup sell-off plan

UEFA have released a statement after Gianni Infantino scrapped plans for the hugely controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise.

Infantino faced intense scrutiny from all angles after FIFA announced plans to “invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments” in a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to oversee the commercial rights for every future tournament.

FIFA had planned to raise around £3.1 billion by selling minority, non-controlling shares in FFE, which the organisation valued at around £15 billion.

Infantino even offered to incentivise those who accepted his proposal by September 19 by pledging to release £30 million.

Unsurprisingly, that idea went down like a lead balloon with several of football's governing bodies, including UEFA, who released a furious statement, accusing FIFA of using football to “enrich themselves”.

An emergency meeting was even called on Thursday (July 30) with all 55 member European associations, and all of them voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA competitions if the plans were passed.

Infantino's senior advisor, Carlos Cordeiro, also made his feelings clear by resigning from his role after releasing an explosive statement, while FIFA's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, threatened to quit his job after feeling deceived.

On Saturday (August 1), common sense prevailed, with FIFA publishing a press release containing a statement attributed to Infantino, confirming they would not proceed with the proposed plans.

UEFA reacts to Gianni Infantino World Cup sell-off plans

In an unprecedented statement shared via their official website, UEFA declared a loss of confidence in Infantino, slamming his scheme as a "shabby, back-room deal."

A statement read: "UEFA welcomes FIFA’s decision to withdraw its plan to sell a stake in its competitions – including the World Cup – into private hands.

"The proposal was unanimously rejected by UEFA’s national associations and by many other federations and confederations of all sizes around the world, whose job it is to protect football.

"UEFA thanks all the fans, leagues, clubs, players, individuals, associations and confederations that opposed the scheme, alongside the many Prime Ministers, Heads of State and commentators who have demonstrated to the FIFA President that football is not for sale.

"We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.

"It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.

"That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family."

UEFA called out Infantino's decision-making, but they're strangers to receiving criticism.

In September 2021, UEFA halted disciplinary action against Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid for their involvement in the proposed European Super League.

The three clubs were among the 12 "founding" members of the breakaway league, which later collapsed after widespread backlash.

"The UEFA Appeals Body has declared today the proceedings null and void," a statement read at the time.

That move came after a court in Madrid ruled that UEFA should not punish the remaining clubs, and to this day, a punishment hasn't materialised.