World Cup for sale - Infantino planning to sell stakes to investors
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His picture's staying on my dartboard.KBslittlesis said:Just when you think you couldn’t hate someone anymore than you do already 🙄3 -
Infantino said he wanted a response by the 19th of September by all FAs. well within a couple of days UEFA have responded but they should add that Infantino should resign by the 19th of September8
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Not a chance. The ridiculous spectre of the Seychelles and Montserrat getting a vote of the same weight as Germany and England means there's no chance they'll vote against Infantino. He'll just keep coming back with more and more watered down versions of it until UEFA eventually relents.CAFCsayer said:
Great, that's infantino goneross1 said:All 55 members of UEFA have voted to boycott World cup proposals5 -
UEFA just want their cut. It’s the Super League all over again. That exists in the revamped and longer Champion’s League format now.
This won’t go away, UEFA will claim a victory on some kind of compromise.1 -
well thats the democracy he was blabbering on about, which isnt democratic or fair at all. well good thing with that we can democratically walk away from fifa.Leroy Ambrose said:
Not a chance. The ridiculous spectre of the Seychelles and Montserrat getting a vote of the same weight as Germany and England means there's no chance they'll vote against Infantino. He'll just keep coming back with more and more watered down versions of it until UEFA eventually relents.CAFCsayer said:
Great, that's infantino goneross1 said:All 55 members of UEFA have voted to boycott World cup proposals0 -
UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.
But our opposition goes far beyond process.
The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.
Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.
As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.
Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.
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The UEFA statement is quite forward and clear. Perhaps naive but doesn’t read as an attempt to negotiate a better deal / bigger cut to me.20
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And he has the master negotiator, Trump, pulling the strings.Leroy Ambrose said:
Not a chance. The ridiculous spectre of the Seychelles and Montserrat getting a vote of the same weight as Germany and England means there's no chance they'll vote against Infantino. He'll just keep coming back with more and more watered down versions of it until UEFA eventually relents.CAFCsayer said:
Great, that's infantino goneross1 said:All 55 members of UEFA have voted to boycott World cup proposals0 -
Callumcafc said:The UEFA statement is quite forward and clear. Perhaps naive but doesn’t read as an attempt to negotiate a better deal / bigger cut to me.
Agreed - it's a flat NO with the clear consequence of making the proposals uneconomic for any third party. No European teams equals no meaningful (valuable) World Cup.3 -
hard to negotiate with that type of responseCallumcafc said:UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.
But our opposition goes far beyond process.
The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.
Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.
As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.
There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.
Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.
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It's obvious Trump is pulling the strings, I suspect Infantino just got greedy and figured he could get his snout deeper in the trough. What I predict will happen is Infantino will announce they are scaling back the plans due to 'concerns' from member states, whilst consolidating his power behind the scenes - then go back to UEFA with an offer that gives them more money, and seeing who blinks first.
Genuinely think UEFA should start the process of creating an alternative world governing body and invite nations to join it. Problem is, all those smaller nations have proven time and time again they can be bought for relatively small sums - so they're unlikely to leave FIFA for a transparent, fair organisation.10 -
I haven't always seen UEFA as the good guys when it comes to football, but credit where credit is due, they've acted quickly and decisively in this matter. Well done to all the FA's involved too.
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this money which is a lot for smaller nations is tempting for them. if they want it let them have it. i know full well that none of it will reach grass roots football in those nations just more for those in the boardrooms of those corrupt FAs. Then the FIFA world cup can be made of them whilst we UEFA and other nations make a new world governing body with a new proper world cup.
who would you want to watch.. France v Germany or Monserrat v Qatar3 -
Only good thing is UEFA taking the lead as our spineless FA would go along with it otherwise.5
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Don't think that's true in this caseThe Red Robin said:Only good thing is UEFA taking the lead as our spineless FA would go along with it otherwise.9 -
Unfortunately, the smaller countries are there to make up the numbers and should they want to go with this then let them (I wouldn’t blame them either). Shame really as they do add to the colour of the WC. European nations and a couple from South America are the main teams that go on to win it anyway.1
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I suspect that the cunning bar steward may also play for time now and try and cast division amongst EUFA members. Hopefully not, but this guy didn't get where he is by being nice.Leroy Ambrose said:It's obvious Trump is pulling the strings, I suspect Infantino just got greedy and figured he could get his snout deeper in the trough. What I predict will happen is Infantino will announce they are scaling back the plans due to 'concerns' from member states, whilst consolidating his power behind the scenes - then go back to UEFA with an offer that gives them more money, and seeing who blinks first.
Genuinely think UEFA should start the process of creating an alternative world governing body and invite nations to join it. Problem is, all those smaller nations have proven time and time again they can be bought for relatively small sums - so they're unlikely to leave FIFA for a transparent, fair organisation.2 -
For once, I agree with you.Redskin said:The recent WC - how apt - with Infantino's vainglorious, egotistical posturing and abject hubris, proved he was forever the turd in FIFA's punchbowl.
His kow-towing to Trump's demands that a Yank's ban was overturned by a simple phone-call was as sickening as it was nefarious, being just one of the machinations that polluted the tournament.
During the half-time circus at the final, I sent the following to my brother in a text:
I despise with every fibre, cell and atom of my being, this fuckfest of American vulgarity and idiocy.
I feel much the same about the latest proposed project of Infantino' and his grubby cohorts at FIFA.
It is nothing more than unbridled greed and meglomania, a vulgar and shameless act that demeans the once 'beautiful game'.
The filthy lucre being promised to footballing nations will prove to be too tempting for some/many, and UEFA would appear to be the only hope of preventing a putrid orgy of malpractice and sheer, unadulterated greed.
I fear the worst...1 -
How had Infantino structured this so he would personally benefit (or was it all by whatever FIFA committee sets his pay and rations) ?
I assume now his ongoing tenure must be at risk.1 -
When UEFA and Blatter have the moral high ground you know that FIFA are dodgy.
Awful deluded man, cynical money grabbing proposal, funded by straight up bribery and the worst World Cup I can recall.4 -
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Karim_myBagheri said:this money which is a lot for smaller nations is tempting for them. if they want it let them have it. i know full well that none of it will reach grass roots football in those nations just more for those in the boardrooms of those corrupt FAs. Then the FIFA world cup can be made of them whilst we UEFA and other nations make a new world governing body with a new proper world cup.
who would you want to watch.. France v Germany or Monserrat v Qatar
Can we leave the Argentinian's in FIFA in this scenario please?1 -
Me either... I think if he tries to press on with this it'll bring fifa down and UEFA know they'd probably be in the driving seat to sort out a coalition of the other governing bodies. They won't press on and infantino will have to resignCallumcafc said:The UEFA statement is quite forward and clear. Perhaps naive but doesn’t read as an attempt to negotiate a better deal / bigger cut to me.2 -
"unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership. "Callumcafc said:The UEFA statement is quite forward and clear. Perhaps naive but doesn’t read as an attempt to negotiate a better deal / bigger cut to me.3 -
A very bold statementAfternoon Delight said:I haven't always seen UEFA as the good guys when it comes to football, but credit where credit is due, they've acted quickly and decisively in this matter. Well done to all the FA's involved too.
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Think you mean master bully.Rob said:
And he has the master negotiator, Trump, pulling the strings.Leroy Ambrose said:
Not a chance. The ridiculous spectre of the Seychelles and Montserrat getting a vote of the same weight as Germany and England means there's no chance they'll vote against Infantino. He'll just keep coming back with more and more watered down versions of it until UEFA eventually relents.CAFCsayer said:
Great, that's infantino goneross1 said:All 55 members of UEFA have voted to boycott World cup proposals0 -
master debator, or something like that...4
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Feels like when KSA tried to strongarm the PGA with LIV golf, only this time it's the money men trying to obtain FIFA instead of setting up a new enterprise, and the individuals rejecting it and threatening to break off themselves0
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Excellent responses from UEAFA and really important that it seems all 55 federations are on board - thought the $40M incentive might be enough to peel a few of the smaller ones off.If Europe stays united then this nonsense will be dead in the water.7
