"As a result of today's discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition as long as these proposals remain in force, unless the proposal is abandoned in its entirety and binding guarantees are given that FIFA will never again open its governance or its competitions to private ownership," UEFA wrote in a press release.
The International Football Association Board (FIFA) announced on Tuesday that it wants to sell shares in all its tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors through a subsidiary that will manage the commercial rights.
"Europe's position is clear. We will never give this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they only manage to the next generation," writes UEFA.
Later on Thursday evening, the North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football Confederation (Concacaf), including the World Cup host nations the United States, Mexico and Canada, announced that it too would not accept FIFA's proposal, reports the AFP news agency.
Attracts millions
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is behind the proposal, has offered the national member associations a financial contribution of approximately SEK 388 million if they vote yes and the proposal passes.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, which has seen a presentation from FIFA, greater revenue could be generated by, among other things, staging more tournaments and raising capital from third parties. Infantino has previously said that he is open to a World Cup played every two years.
FIFA also wants to sell television rights directly to pay channels, according to the document.
"The World Cup is not for sale"
FIFA's announcement has sparked strong reactions in the football world, and UEFA called an emergency meeting on Thursday.
"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built up over generations of players, national teams and supporters across all continents. No part of it should ever be handed over to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale," UEFA wrote in the press release.
