UEFA plans boycott of FIFA tournaments over proposed $20 billion private equity deal

UEFA, the governing body for European football, will hold emergency talks in Switzerland on Thursday to consider a boycott of all FIFA-organized competitions. The proposal is aimed at blocking a planned $20 billion investment by the venture-capital firm Thrive Eternal, linked to the Kushner family, which would acquire a 20 percent stake in a new FIFA subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise.

If approved, the boycott would see European national teams withdraw from the men’s and women’s World Cups, youth tournaments and the expanded Club World Cup, while continuing to compete in UEFA-run events such as the Champions League and the European Championship. Officials believe a majority of the 211 FIFA members could vote against the deal.

"Football does not belong to investors," British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on social media, emphasizing that the World Cup should not be treated as a commercial product.

EU Sports Commissioner Glen Micallef warned that "the relentless commercialization of football has become corrosive," contrasting it with other sports cultures.

Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice-president of the German football association, described the private-equity proposal as an "outright attack on football."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promoted the deal as a way to increase development funding for smaller federations, raising payouts from $8 million to $20 million through 2030. Critics argue the plan would concentrate broadcasting, ticketing and sponsorship rights in a private entity and could breach EU competition rules.

Representatives for UEFA, FIFA, Thrive Capital and JPMorgan declined to comment on the pending vote.