UEFA members agree FIFA boycott if World Cup plans pursued

UEFA member countries agree to boycott FIFA competitions in protest at private equity plan for World Cup.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, has voted to boycott FIFA events – including the World Cup – if the proposed sale of the event to private investors goes ahead.

The unanimous vote by UEFA member federations agreed on Thursday to boycott all FIFA competitions in protest against Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

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“UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions,” the European football body said after an urgent online meeting of the 55 members.

The strategy meeting was called to counter FIFA President Infantino’s offer of $20m to each of its 211 global members that has to be accepted by mid-September.

Infantino’s secret proposal was revealed on Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a $20bn operation, with 20 percent owned by private investors.

The core investor would be a New York venture capital investment firm created by Joshua Kushner.

The next FIFA competition is in Europe, the Women’s Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland from September 5.

More to follow.