Uefa debate World Cup boycott at emergency meeting after Gianni Infantino bombshell - latest

Uefa will discuss boycotting the World Cup in response to Gianni Infantino’s controversial plans to sell of stakes in Fifa’s major tournaments to external investors, including members of Donald Trump’s family.

The governing body of European football has led the furious response to Infantino’s proposals and called an emergency meeting to discuss how to they can leverage their position. That includes the threat of boycotting the tournament, as a World Cup without major nations such as champions Spain, France, Germany and England would be hugely damaging to Infantino.

Uefa were left dismayed that Infantino has given Fifa’s member associations just 53 days to decide their position and were outraged by Infantino promising a $40m (£30m) windfall to nations who back the proposals, or have the one-off payment withdrawn. “This says everything you need to know about this plan,” Uefa said in a statement on Wednesday.

Uefa, which previously said that Infantino’s plans “crossed a line”, will hold their emergency meeting with its 55 member associations virtually and knows it will require support from another confederation to block Infantino’s plans. Meanwhile, the head of the Czech FA backed Fifa’s proposals on Wednesday, which suggests Infantino carries some support within Europe as well.

What has Uefa said about Gianni Infantino's World Cup proposals?

Uefa, the governing body of European football and a long-term critic of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, said in a statement: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross.

“Uefa takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially.

“None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell.”

Uefa to discuss boycotting World Cup in emergency meeting after Fifa bombshell

Uefa will hold an emergency meeting this afternoon, where the prospect of boycotting the World Cup will be discussed as leverage against Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to privatise the tournament.

Next steps with the European Union will also be raised, as the European Commission scrutinises whether Infantino’s project contravenes protections that are afforded as regards competition law.

Fifa’s plan has provoked fury in most of the European game, to the point that an alliance of all major stakeholders is gaining strength.

Bodies including the Football Association, European Leagues, European Football Clubs, the Union of European Clubs, the Football Supporters Association and Football Supporters Europe have already 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.