World Cup boycott latest: Infantino dealt further blow after Uefa say they’ll refuse to play in Fifa tournaments

Meanwhile, a timeline for Fifa’s plans to set up the commercial entity was revealed.

Fifa aims to finalise private funding for its contentious World Cup company by the end of October, according to information obtained by the Press Association.

The proposal to sell stakes in a private entity, which would manage all commercial and operational aspects of Fifa’s competitions, provoked a strong backlash from Uefa and raised significant concerns among European clubs and major leagues globally.

Throwing it back to developments earlier this week, while Uefa held their emergency meeting on Wednesday, the confederation for Africa (Caf), released a statement displaying an openness to consider the proposal by Fifa and encouraged other members to take a similar attitude.

“The Confederation Africaine de Football (Caf) received correspondence today from Fifa on the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise initiative, in accordance with the consultation process that is currently underway with Fifa Member Associations and the Fifa Council,” the statement read.

“As part of this consultation process, the Caf President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, will host a meeting of the Caf Executive Committee next week, to inter-alia, assess and evaluate the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise initiative.

“Caf also encourages its Member Associations to examine the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal and participate in the consultation process in accordance with Caf and Fifa’s regulations and established procedures.

“Caf is committed to continue consulting and working together with its Member Associations, Fifa, other Football Confederations and stakeholders in support of increasing financial and other resources for the development and growth of football in Africa and worldwide.”

AFC’s statement concludes: “Accordingly, the AFC calls upon FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement and appropriate oversight by FIFA’s statutory bodies.

“The FIFA World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family. Their future must always be shaped collectively, through institutions that reflect the voices of all Confederations and MAs.”

The AFC statement also explains how their confidence in Fifa’s governance has been undermined by the manner in which this proposal has been laid out.

Their statement continues: “This is not the first occasion where major stakeholders have been confronted with significant initiatives after the direction of travel appears to have already been determined. Such an approach undermines confidence in FIFA’s governance framework and diminishes the authority of its statutory bodies. No subsequent consultation process, however well intentioned, can replace early engagement with the appropriate FIFA bodies and the football family.

“The AFC believes this moment must become a catalyst for strengthening institutional reform. While every FIFA MA must have the opportunity to consider and determine proposals affecting the future of world football, meaningful democracy is not measured solely by the opportunity to vote. It begins with transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation and genuine participation throughout the decision-making process.”

“Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by UEFA and CONCACAF, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward,” the AFC’s statement continued.

“The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world’s leading football nations. Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.

“While the immediate debate centres on FFE, the AFC considers this issue extends far beyond a single proposal. Rather, it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed. While the AFC notes FIFA’s latest clarification on the proposal, the central concerns surrounding governance, institutional process and meaningful consultation remain unanswered.

“A proposal of such significance, with the potential to affect the commercial, sporting and strategic future of world football, must not emerge through processes that leave Confederations, Member Associations (MAs) and even FIFA’s own governing bodies, including the FIFA Council, feeling sidelined. The primary objective for world football must be to ensure that decisions of such magnitude are being developed through processes that are anchored on transparency and command the confidence of the football community.”

The Asian Football Confederation has just released a statement backing the positions of Uefa and Concacaf in opposition to the proposal to create the FFE.

They have released a statement which begins: “The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has observed with deep concern the developments of recent days relating to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and the uncertainty that has emerged across the global football community.

“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE.

“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.”

With Uefa still in discussions, bodies including the Football Association, European Leagues, European Football Clubs, the Union of European Clubs, the Football Supporters Association and Football Supporters Europe released strident statements, mostly condemning the lack of proper process, but with some going much further and demanding drastic change at the top of the game.

Figures within the national associations and Uefa’s structure were infuriated by the unilateral nature in which Infantino came up with the plan as well as the very prospect of privatisation.

The discussions then turned to a potential boycott.

As part of Uefa’s discussions, there was increasing dismay over Gianni Infantino’s promise of more funding should they back his plan from the offset rather than block the proposal.

The Independent’s Chief Football Writer, Miguel Delaney, explained that Infantino told the heads of Fifa’s 211 member associations that they could miss out on a $30m payment if they do not back his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, and gave them just 53 days to decide.

In a letter to the member associations, seen by The Independent, Infantino promised that national federations would benefit from an increase of its ‘Fifa Forward’ funding from around $8m to $20m for the upcoming four-year cycle between 2027 and 2031 if the new FFE subsidiary is created.

Additionally, the letter states that a “one-off” payment of another $20m would be made available for member associations who vote for Infantino’s proposals on 19 September.

In the letter, member associations are then warned that their funding for the 2027-2031 cycle would only stand at $10m if the vote does not pass, meaning they would miss out on $30m.

A further statement from Uefa on the $40m windfalls said: “Today we have learned of Fifa’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.

“But having held discussions with many stakeholders across the game, Uefa knows there is significant and growing opposition to Fifa’s scheme. Fifa cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It’s time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.”

On Wednesday, Uefa convened an emergency meeting of its members to discuss the Fifa proposal and what their response to it would be.

News filtered out throughout the afternoon with the president of the Czech Football Association seemingly willing to back Infantino and his plan.

“I can see the pragmatic benefits for Czech football from working in close co-operation with Gianni Infantino and his team,” Czech president David Trunda told Sky News.

“Of course we need more details, but my personal point of view is that I can see the positive impact of Fifa’s intentions.

“I was elected a little more than a year ago, and for me personally all the projects I have experienced in cooperation with Fifa have been very positive for the development of European football.”

The driving force behind the creation of the FFE is Fifa president Gianni Infantino who confirmed that the new subsidiary would manage the commercial rights and delivery of the World Cup, as well as other major tournaments, and that the Fifa Forward Enterprises (FFE) would be open to external capital investment.

Private investors will be sought to “make minority, non-controlling investments” in the company. The investor group for FFE is set to be led by Thrive Eternal, founded earlier this year by Joshua Kushner – the brother of US president Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Fifa is working with bankers at JPMorgan to raise billions of dollars by bringing in external investors to take as much as a 20 per cent stake.

In a statement, Fifa said it would “raise up to $4.2bn later this year” to fund the project, “based on an initial equity valuation of $20bn by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests … All net benefits will be reinvested back into football worldwide.”