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Fifa’s Controversial Proposal Sparks Uefa Backlash Over Women’s Football
Fifa’s attempt to privatize stakes in its major tournaments faced sharp criticism from Uefa, which vowed to boycott competitions if the plan was not fully abandoned, raising concerns about the future of women’s football.
Fifa’s aborted plan to sell stakes in its major tournaments, including the Women’s World Cup, has sparked strong opposition from Uefa, putting women’s football at the center of a growing governance dispute under Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
The proposal, outlined in a 25-page sales document sent to Fifa's 211 member associations, aimed to open up ownership of World Cup competitions to private investors. Despite the Women’s World Cup receiving only a brief mention in the document, the women’s game found itself on the frontline of the backlash against the plan.
Uefa responded decisively by announcing that European national teams would refuse to participate in any Fifa competition while the proposal remained active. The statement demanded the complete abandonment of the privatization plan and binding guarantees that Fifa would never again expose its governance or competitions to private ownership.
This bold stance from Uefa highlights the increasing tension between the governing bodies and raises questions over the future direction of Fifa’s management and the protection of women’s football. The move was seen as a necessary defense of the sport’s integrity, especially as youth and senior qualifiers for upcoming tournaments approach.
The aborted sales plan, now largely dismissed as expensive waste paper, would have had significant implications for the women’s game had it proceeded. The episode underscores how women’s football continues to be used as a political pawn amid wider disputes over football’s governance.
Looking ahead, the focus will be on how Fifa responds to Uefa’s demands and whether the threat of a boycott will influence the organization’s future governance decisions. With qualifiers on the horizon, the situation remains fluid, and the protection of women’s football from commercial exploitation will likely remain a key issue in the coming months.
For the latest developments on this story, visit the original article on theguardian.com.
