Australia responds to World Cup boycott amid FIFA's "rampant capitalism"

Football Australia has said it needs more time to consider if it will follow in the footsteps of other nations and boycott the World Cup in the aftermath of global outrage at FIFA's plan to seek private investment into their events.

This week it was revealed by UK media that FIFA president Gianni Infantino was planning to create a sister company to control and oversee tournaments – including the World Cups – and he would then sell shares of the subsidiary to private equity.

It sparked fury around the world with UEFA and CONCACAF already vowing to boycott all FIFA sanctioned events until they had sufficient reassurance that the scheme would not go ahead.

Football Australia did not add their voices to the criticism of Infantino but rather called for more time to absorb the proposal which could net them $40 million.

“As this is the first time we have been made aware of the initiative, we are now working to understand the proposal in full,” an FA spokesperson said.

“We have requested further information from FIFA to properly assess the strategic, commercial, and governance implications of such a significant step.

“We will only be able to form a position after receiving this information and engaging in further dialogue with our peer member associations and our confederation.”

SEN's Adam Peacock has described Infantino's plan as "rampant capitalism at its best" as the plan would mean a large growth in profits for the FIFA President.

"This is just where sport is going, is where football is going, and where does it stop?," Peacock said on SEN 1170 Drive.

"That's the question. Where does it stop? How much can you sell? How much should be kept the way it is (and) how much should evolve?

"It seems Gianni Infantino and FIFA, and in particular Infantino, is dead keen on making it evolve with a commercial eye.

(It's) rampant capitalism at its best.

"It's patently clear that the most important thing for Infantino is to firstly, maintain his power, and secondly, create as much wealth for the game, but at what cost and at what benefit for him.

"He will always turn around and say, 'no, I'm doing this for the game', and you can't tell him he's absolutely lying, but the suspicion is, 'hang on a minute, what's happening here'?

"Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc."

DEAD IN THE WATER?

Infantino’s plan to sell off the World Cup could be dead in the water with UEFA and CONCACAF united on boycotting all FIFA events in protest.

All 55 members of UEFA met online on Thursday and unanimously agreed to stand firm in their belief that Infantino is not acting in the best interests of the sport.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin slammed Infantino and the scheme and after he had met with all members of the governing body, a statement outlining their intent to boycott was issued.

“UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions,” it read.

“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 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.

“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.

"This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.

“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences.

"This is not a “democratic decision”, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.

“But our opposition goes far beyond process.

“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.

“From that moment onwards, 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.

“This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.

“Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation.

“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.

“Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination.

“There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise. This is one of those moments.

“Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”

The UEFA-FIFA civil war is not the only one with Concacaf echoing the sentiments of their Europeans peers.

“Concacaf is a confederation united by the love of our game, where football comes first," a statement said.

“Guided by this philosophy over the past ten years we have built, from the ground up, an organisation founded on service, transparent governance, and the long-term stewardship of football.

“History has shown Fifa and the football family what happens when the custodians of the game lose sight of these values.

“With this in mind, Concacaf today convened a meeting of the presidents of its 41 Member Associations, together with its President, Council members, and its Fifa Council members, to discuss a proposal developed and presented by the Fifa President to establish ‘Fifa Forward Enterprise’ and sell interests in the Fifa World Cup to private investors.

“During the meeting, the membership expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant Fifa governance bodies.

“In addition, the need for private equity investment to fund new and existing Fifa Forward programs following the most profitable Fifa World Cup in history was questioned.

“The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance.”