FIFA President Gianni Infantino
“No national team will participate in any FIFA competition as long as these proposals remain in effect,” according to a statement published on the UEFA website.
The conflict stems from FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plans to sell a stake in a new company that will manage the commercial rights to the World Cup. According to media reports, potential investors include a group led by Joshua Kushner, and JP Morgan is handling the deal.
According to UEFA, European soccer officials learned of these plans not from FIFA, but from media reports. The organization sharply criticized the initiative, stating that FIFA is “crossing a red line” and should not use soccer “to enrich itself and its friends.”
According to Sky News, Infantino has asked national associations to support the project by September 19. As an incentive, FIFA is prepared to allocate $40 million to each federation. However, as reported by the media, funding for soccer development programs could be reduced in the event of a refusal.
The Asian and African confederations have stated that they are willing to consider the proposal. European federations have taken the opposite stance and warned that they will not participate in FIFA tournaments until the proposal is withdrawn.
