The dispute between world football governing body FIFA and European governing body UEFA has intensified after FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed opening part of the organisation’s commercial operations to private investors.
UEFA is expected to hold an emergency meeting this week as European football leaders consider how to respond to the plan, which has faced strong opposition from several federations across the continent.
The proposal would see FIFA establish a new company responsible for managing the commercial rights connected to major competitions, including the World Cup and the Club World Cup. FIFA would then offer a minority share in the new business to private investors.
According to reports, the stake made available to outside investors would be between 20% and 30%. A group led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, has been identified as one of the leading potential investors.
The proposed commercial company is reportedly valued by FIFA at about €17.5bn, with the governing body hoping to generate approximately €3.7bn from the sale of the minority stake.
The plan has triggered concern among European football officials, who are preparing to coordinate their opposition. UEFA wants its members to present a united position against a project that some leaders believe could have significant consequences for the future governance of the sport.
FIFA is also understood to be planning financial incentives for national associations that support the proposal. Each member federation backing the initiative could receive about $20m, according to the information in the article.
The scale of the proposed investment and the potential financial distribution have added to the tensions between FIFA and UEFA, with European officials increasingly looking at ways to challenge Infantino’s plans.
The disagreement could become particularly serious if UEFA members decide to take action against FIFA’s competitions. According to reports cited in the article, some European federations have discussed the possibility of boycotting the next Women’s World Cup in Brazil if Infantino does not withdraw the proposal.
Such a move would represent a significant escalation in the dispute and would echo an earlier confrontation between the two organisations.
UEFA previously used the threat of strong resistance in 2021, when its president Aleksander Čeferin opposed FIFA’s proposal to stage the men’s World Cup every two years instead of maintaining the traditional four-year cycle.
The plan to increase the frequency of the World Cup faced significant opposition from European football authorities. After sustained resistance from UEFA and other parties, Infantino eventually abandoned the proposal.
European football leaders now hope that the previous experience can provide a model for challenging the latest FIFA initiative.
The current disagreement centres on the proposed restructuring of FIFA’s commercial activities. Under Infantino’s plan, the new company would oversee the lucrative broadcasting and marketing rights associated with the World Cup and Club World Cup, while outside investors would acquire a minority interest.
FIFA’s proposed valuation of around €17.5bn underlines the scale of the commercial operation involved. The planned sale could provide the governing body with roughly €3.7bn, while member federations that support the project could receive substantial financial payments.
For UEFA, however, the issue extends beyond the immediate financial benefits. European officials are concerned about what the proposal could mean for the way football is governed and are seeking to build a collective response to FIFA.
The emergency meeting planned for this week is expected to give UEFA members an opportunity to discuss the proposal and consider their next steps. With several European federations reportedly opposed to the project, the meeting could mark an important moment in the growing dispute.
The possibility of a Women’s World Cup boycott has raised the stakes further. The tournament is due to take place in Brazil, and any decision by European nations to withdraw would create a major confrontation between the continent’s football authorities and FIFA.
Infantino now faces renewed opposition from UEFA at a time when FIFA is seeking support for a major change to the way its commercial rights are managed.
UEFA’s leaders will be hoping that, as in 2021, a united response from European football can persuade FIFA to reconsider its plans.
The dispute therefore represents another significant test of the relationship between FIFA and UEFA, with European officials preparing to challenge Infantino’s latest proposal and potentially escalating their response if the project moves forward.
