The Union of European Football Associations and its 55 member associations have unanimously rejected FIFA’s proposal to allow private investors to acquire ownership interests in the FIFA World Cup and other global competitions.It warned that European national teams will boycott FIFA tournaments if the plan goes ahead.In a statement issued on Thursday, UEFA described the proposal as an attempt to commercialise football’s biggest competition, insisting that “the World Cup is not for sale.”The European football governing body accused FIFA of developing the proposal in secret and attempting to push it through without meaningful consultation with stakeholders responsible for the game’s governance.“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement read.UEFA further condemned what it described as FIFA’s decision-making process, saying, “It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. It warned that European national teams will boycott FIFA tournaments if the plan goes ahead.In a statement issued on Thursday, UEFA described the proposal as an attempt to commercialise football’s biggest competition, insisting that “the World Cup is not for sale.”The European football governing body accused FIFA of developing the proposal in secret and attempting to push it through without meaningful consultation with stakeholders responsible for the game’s governance.“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement read.UEFA further condemned what it described as FIFA’s decision-making process, saying, “It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. In a statement issued on Thursday, UEFA described the proposal as an attempt to commercialise football’s biggest competition, insisting that “the World Cup is not for sale.”The European football governing body accused FIFA of developing the proposal in secret and attempting to push it through without meaningful consultation with stakeholders responsible for the game’s governance.“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement read.UEFA further condemned what it described as FIFA’s decision-making process, saying, “It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. The European football governing body accused FIFA of developing the proposal in secret and attempting to push it through without meaningful consultation with stakeholders responsible for the game’s governance.“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement read.UEFA further condemned what it described as FIFA’s decision-making process, saying, “It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. “The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement read.UEFA further condemned what it described as FIFA’s decision-making process, saying, “It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. “No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement read.UEFA further condemned what it described as FIFA’s decision-making process, saying, “It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. UEFA further condemned what it described as FIFA’s decision-making process, saying, “It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. The organisation argued that national football associations were being forced into accepting the proposal, describing the process as “governance by intimidation” rather than a democratic decision.Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. Explaining its opposition, UEFA said allowing private investors into FIFA competitions would permanently shift football’s priorities from sporting interests to shareholder returns.Related NewsFive things to know about FIFA’s controversial World Cup stake proposalEPL: Rashford returns to Man United after Barcelona spellHow a ₦10,000 World Cup Bet Turned a Sokoto Businessman into a ₦150M Lagos Landlord“The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. “The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.“Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. “Every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders,” the statement read.UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. UEFA maintained that football’s future “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” adding that national associations, clubs, leagues, players and supporters should never become subordinate to investor interests.The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. The governing body also announced that its members had agreed that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions while the proposal remained under consideration.“As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. “As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” the statement added.UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. UEFA concluded by declaring that it would oppose the proposal “with absolute determination,” insisting that “some things are simply too important to sell” and reaffirming that “the FIFA World Cup belongs to football.”The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. The development follows FIFA’s announcement earlier this week of plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, which would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions while offering a minority stake to external investors.FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. FIFA said the initiative could generate more than $10bn for football development over the next four years and insisted it would retain control over governance and sporting decisions.The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport. The proposal has drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including European Leagues and players’ union FIFPRO Europe, over concerns that private investment could undermine the governance and long-term integrity of the sport.