The Scottish FA have thrown their weight behind a UEFA threat to boycott the World Cup if FIFA’s Gianni Infantino pursues plans to sell stakes in its competitions to private equity.
SFA President Mike Mulraney and Chief Executive Ian Maxwell attended an emergency online summit of UEFA’s 55 member associations.
Europe’s governing body then released a statement afterwards reiterating their opposition to Infantino’s proposals and warning that no UEFA nation will take part in FIFA competitions if they are forced through by the world body.
Mulraney was recently elected as one of UEFA’s representatives on FIFA’s powerful Financial Committee and the SFA expressed support for Europe’s declaration of war on Infantino in a no-nonsense statement.
“The President and Chief Executive of the Scottish FA today attended a remote meeting of UEFA nations to discuss the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise.
“The Scottish FA Board agrees unequivocally with the concerns raised by all members over the manner in which these proposals have been issued, and deadline set, without a full consultation process or consideration to good governance.
“The Board is fully supportive of the statement issued by UEFA following the meeting.
“We are also aligned with our fellow national associations who seek to ensure our collective voice is heard resoundingly, and that the Corinthian spirit which underpins the beautiful game - invented here in Scotland and shared with the world - is protected.”
In a statement released after the meeting, UEFA said it and its 55 member associations "stand as one" despite Infantino writing to FIFA’s 211 member associations promising payments of £30million each if they support his proposals to create commercial subsidiary FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run competitions, including the World Cup, and allow businesses to purchase shares in the organisation.
The first time test of the unity will come in October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are due to be held.
“UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one,” read the statement. “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.”
