UEFA to boycott all FIFA competitions to protest World Cup private equity plan - ESPN

UEFA will boycott all FIFA competitions including the World Cup after an emergency meeting on Thursday resolved to «unequivocally reject» FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to raise $20 billion of outside investment with a share sell-off to a private equity group.

The decision means that major nations including Germany, France, England and world champions Spain would not participate in the men's or women's World Cup.

Infantino revealed plans earlier this week for the sale of a stake in FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) that would raise huge funds in exchange for influence over future World Cups including broadcasting and commercial deals linked to the tournament.

The proposal, backed by American investor Josh Kushner and the bank JP Morgan, would trigger over $80 million in payouts to each of FIFA's 211 member associations between now and 2037. Infantino has set a Sept. 19 deadline for associations to accept the plan.

But following a virtual meeting of UEFA's 55 member associations in which sources told ESPN that over 50 associations took the floor and expressed unanimity in their anger at Infantino's proposals, European football's governing body has agreed to boycott all future FIFA competitions until the sell-off plan is abandoned.

The first test of this stance will come in September when Poland is due to host the Women's U-20 World Cup.

In a statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 National Associations, UEFA said: «UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.

»UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. 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