Uefa in Crisis Mode: Emergency Meeting Over Fifa World Cup Plans
Uefa will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss its response to the controversial World Cup stakeholder plans proposed by Fifa and its president, Gianni Infantino. The European football governing body has been at odds with Fifa over the plans, which would see a 20% stake in Fifa competitions sold to private finance.
Uefa's Second Statement on the Issue
Uefa's second statement on the issue claims that Fifa has "crossed a line". The statement follows the first, which accused Fifa of trying to sell out football. Uefa's unease has been echoed by the Asian, South American, and North and Central American Confederations.
Criticism of Fifa's Plans
Many associations, including the Football Association, are furious at only learning of the proposal to sell a 20% stake in Fifa competitions to private finance, led by the Thrive Eternal investment vehicle owned by Joshua Kushner, the brother-in-law of US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka. FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt was among the Fifa vice-presidents not given advance warning.
Reactions from Football Leaders
Former FA and Manchester City chairman David Bernstein said England must "withdraw" from the World Cup if Infantino's proposals go through. La Liga president Javier Tebas accused Infantino of trying to buy votes before the next Fifa congress in March. "It doesn't seem like a reform. It seems like an electoral campaign financed with the future of football," Tebas said.
Fifa's Explanation for Controversial Move
Fifa released an eight-page document highlighting the reasons behind the plans on Wednesday evening. The document claims that "too little of football's growing commercial value has reached the parts of the game that need it most". Infantino defended the plans, calling them "an offer, not an obligation". "It's part of a democratic process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation," he added.
Global Players' Union Fifpro Speaks Out
Global players' union Fifpro called on Fifa to "reconsider its proposal without further delay". It said it had "noted with deep concern the proposal to transform the World Cup and other Fifa competitions into investable assets for private capital". Fifpro added that such a move "would fundamentally and irreversibly reshape the incentives underpinning the competitions".
What's Next for Uefa and Fifa
The outcome of Uefa's emergency meeting remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the fate of the World Cup stakeholder plans hangs in the balance. With the meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon, the clock is ticking for Infantino and Fifa to convince Uefa and the rest of the football world that their plans are worth supporting.
Source: Joy Online
