UEFA has issued a stark warning to Fifa, declaring that it and its national associations will not participate in Fifa competitions if president Gianni Infantino’s funding plan goes ahead. The proposal would see Fifa sell a 20% stake in a subsidiary company set up to run its competitions, including the World Cup, with private investors involved — among them Joshua Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
The boycott threat would be activated if Infantino’s funding deal is accepted, and the deadline for countries to sign up and receive $20m (£15m) on 1 January is 19 September. That timeline creates a direct conflict with the U20 Women’s World Cup, which begins on 5 September and is hosted by Poland. A senior European football source admitted the implications had not been fully thought through, saying: “Not sure the detail was considered when deciding the overall policy.” In a worst-case scenario, European nations could be withdrawing from that tournament mid-competition, between the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
The fallout would then extend to the Women’s World Cup play-offs in October, which feature England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For Wales, the stakes are particularly high. UEFA vice-president and former Wales international Laura McAllister told BBC Radio 5 Live that qualification would be historic for the nation.
“Wales is involved in the play-offs for the Women’s World Cup in the autumn, and it would be our first qualification for a World Cup,” McAllister said. “Nobody can even countenance the thought of not being involved in those.” She was unequivocal in placing the blame on Fifa, adding: “This is not a problem of Uefa’s making. We’ve been pushed into this corner and that’s Fifa’s responsibility.”
With the situation still unresolved, those closest to the dispute admit there is no clear picture of how it will end. As McAllister put it, nobody wants the players or nations to suffer when it comes to the most prestigious competitions in the game.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
