UEFA Backs FIFA’s Withdrawal of World Cup Stake Sale Proposal
By Admin, Lagos
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon plans to sell a stake in its competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, to private investors.
In a statement issued on Saturday, UEFA said the reversal was a positive outcome for the sport, noting that the proposal had been unanimously rejected by all of its member associations and opposed by several football federations and confederations across the globe.
The European football governing body also praised fans, clubs, leagues, players, national associations and political leaders who voiced opposition to the proposal, maintaining that football should remain free from private ownership interests.
“Football is not for sale,” UEFA declared.
The organisation criticised the process through which the proposal was developed, describing it as lacking transparency and raising concerns over its potential impact on the future of the game. It argued that decisions of such magnitude should not be driven by undisclosed interests or rushed through without broad consultation.
UEFA further announced plans to work closely with its member associations and other continental confederations to examine how the proposal came about and develop safeguards to prevent similar situations in the future.
The body also questioned FIFA’s current leadership, saying it had lost the confidence of UEFA and many within the global football community over issues relating to transparency and governance.
Referring to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s promises when he assumed office in 2016, UEFA said commitments to openness and the proper use of FIFA’s financial resources had not been fulfilled.
According to UEFA, FIFA’s financial reserves—estimated at more than $5 billion—should be channelled into football development through existing initiatives such as the FIFA Forward Programme, particularly to strengthen grassroots football across its 211 member associations.
While applauding FIFA’s decision to drop the proposal, UEFA stressed that restoring confidence in world football’s governing body should remain a priority.
“This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun,” the statement said.