UEFA and its 55 member nations voted on Thursday to boycott all FIFA tournaments in protest at the global governing body’s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. The decision was made in response to FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions.
Reactions from Football Associations
The English FA stated, ‘We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support the collective view. We oppose FIFA’s plans – the FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will.’ The Scottish FA Board also expressed concerns over the manner in which the proposals were issued, stating that there was no full consultation process or consideration to good governance.
Other football associations, including the Asian Football Confederation, the German FA, and the Swedish FA, also expressed their opposition to FIFA’s plans. The Norwegian FA chief, Lise Klaveness, stated that Norway and UEFA would withdraw from FIFA competitions if the project continues.
The U.S. Soccer and Canada Soccer associations also expressed their support for CONCACAF’s decision to reject FIFA’s proposal. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso stated, ‘Football has to be for the people, not in private hands.’
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
