Uefa World Cup boycott may be raised over Fifa plan

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations saying they will receive $40m (£30m) if they back his controversial plan to sell off stakes in its major competitions.

Infantino has set a deadline of 19 September for football federations to accept his plans if they want to access an initial $20m (£15m).

Football's world governing body has said it wants to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.

Uefa, European football's governing body, accused Fifa of using football "to enrich themselves and their friends".

The incentive to nations comes less than 24 hours after the bombshell statement rocked football's foundations, quickly leading to condemnation from Europe, Asia and North America.

It is understood Infantino even left some of Fifa's eight vice-presidents in the dark about his plan, which it is claimed could raise $10bn (£7.5bn).

Infantino has signed a five-page letter, seen by the BBC, outlining the merits of his proposal.

The letter states that if member associations respond positively by the deadline, $20m will be "available immediately" from 1 January.

In a statement on Wednesday, Uefa said: "We have learned of Fifa's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn.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."

FA 'completely unaware' of proposals

Fifa says the money will come from "liquidating a minority portion" of its stake on Fifa Forward Enterprise, a subsidiary company set up to maximise commercial revenue that will include private investors.

Although Fifa suggested Infantino gave a broad outline of his proposal at a council meeting just before the World Cup final this month, others who were present rejected this strongly. They say Infantino merely offered an aspirational vision for the future around maximising revenue streams.

They now believe they were duped, with the events of the past 24 hours leading them to conclude negotiations have all been completed and now they are being presented with a fait accompli.

"It is my duty and responsibility as Fifa president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members," said Infantino.

"It is equally my duty and responsibility to ensure such proposals are sufficiently complete and feasible, replete with substantiated figures and clear terms to assist you in the decision-making process."

Opposition to the plan has been fierce, with many citing the lack of due process as the first point of their anger.

A Football Association spokesperson said: "We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is and what conditions are attached.

"Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved.

"When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by Fifa, we will make our views clear and comment further."

Former FA and Manchester City chairman David Bernstein said England must "withdraw" from the World Cup if Infantino's proposals go through.

"The whole thing is absolutely dreadful," Bernstein told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.

"It's totally unacceptable. It feels [like] cronyism, nepotism. It sort of stinks, frankly."

He said that if critics of the plans want to try and save football from this "dreadful situation", they must "have the guts to really follow it through" and refuse to play in the World Cup.

Uefa to hold emergency meeting

Uefa took the remarkable step of issuing a response to Fifa's plans before they had been published on Tuesday, responding to initial newspaper reports.

It condemned the plans, saying they "crossed a line". It intends to hold an emergency meeting of all 55 members this week to work on a plan of action.

Given the strength of feeling, it would be a surprise if the possibility of a boycott was not at least raised.

While the confederation only accounts for a quarter of Fifa's 211-country membership, it does include most of the world's most successful teams.

Six of the eight quarter-finalists - including winners Spain - at this summer's World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively.

Uefa knows any competition Fifa puts together would be far less valuable if its members were not involved.

Fifa's argument that it is compelled to look at proposals that would help it grow the game globally has led to fears about expansion at a time when proposals for a 64-team World Cup in 2030, which will be hosted by six countries in three confederations, are gathering pace.

That would have huge implications for the football calendar, which is already squeezed, partly because of the expansion of European club competitions.

One senior source within the English game told BBC Sport that the threat posed by Fifa's plan is one of the biggest the game has faced and is on a par with the proposed European Super League, which created such controversy in 2021 and was scrapped within 48 hours.

It seems unlikely that Fifa will back down in the same manner over this.

This latest escalation extends a difficult relationship between Fifa and Uefa, which responded angrily to attempts to host the World Cup every two years when the idea was floated by former Arsenal manager and Fifa's current chief of global football development Arsene Wenger in 2021.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the World Cup final this month in protest over a number of controversial moves, including US President Donald Trump stepping in to help turn USA forward Folarin Balogun's one-match ban into a suspended ban, allowing him to play in the last-16 encounter with Belgium.

How has rest of football world reacted?

Uefa is not the only organisation unhappy with the situation.

Concacaf, which covers North and Central America and hosted this year's World Cup, said in a statement: "We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process.

"We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place.

"As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, Fifa, the confederations and every member association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport."

The French Football Federation said: "It obviously raises many questions, particularly ‌since we, the member federations, were not involved and we lack the specific information needed to weigh in on matters that are clearly fundamental to the future of football."

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.

"Development cannot be used to buy votes or silences. The competitions and commercial rights of Fifa are not the personal patrimony of Infantino.

"Whoever mixes politics, discipline, money and power without transparency cannot lead anything.