UEFA has warned that European football teams could still boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, despite world football’s governing body withdrawing its controversial proposal to sell stakes in its flagship tournaments to private investors.
The latest escalation comes after the English Football Association formally withdrew its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, adding further pressure on the governing body following widespread opposition to the investment plan.
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA said FIFA’s decision to abandon the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project had not resolved the concerns raised by European football authorities.
According to UEFA, two conditions were required to restore trust. The first was the complete withdrawal of the proposal to sell interests in FIFA’s major competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. The second was a firm commitment that similar proposals would never be pursued again.
UEFA said neither condition had been satisfied and reiterated that it continues to have no confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
The European governing body dismissed FIFA’s internal defence of its president, arguing that statements from officials employed by FIFA did not address the core issues surrounding the failed proposal or rebuild trust among member associations.
FIFA had acknowledged during a management meeting that mistakes were made during the handling of the FFE project. The organisation admitted the consultation process had left member associations and the FIFA Council feeling excluded and accepted that the matter should have been managed differently.
However, UEFA said the apology did not answer critical questions surrounding the proposal or provide accountability for the controversy.
Infantino’s original plan sought approval to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary that would oversee major FIFA competitions while allowing minority investment from private firms. As part of the proposal, member associations were reportedly offered up to $40 million (£30 million) in funding if they supported the initiative.
The plan faced fierce resistance from UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, forcing FIFA to abandon the proposal before it reached a formal vote.
Despite the reversal, UEFA insists serious concerns remain over how the project was developed and who was involved in shaping it. European officials continue to demand greater transparency regarding whether a competitive investment process existed, who stood to benefit from the proposal and whether appropriate governance procedures were followed.
Questions have also emerged about divisions within FIFA’s leadership. While several senior executives attended a meeting with Infantino following the controversy, reports indicate Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour was absent after previously criticising the proposal as the initiative of a single individual rather than the organisation.
Lamour had publicly stated he was prepared to lose his job rather than support the plan, describing it as a moment that required football’s leaders to make difficult decisions for the future of the sport.
UEFA has made clear it expects answers to its outstanding concerns and maintains that confidence in FIFA’s leadership cannot be restored until those issues are addressed or a change is made at the top of world football.