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In a statement released after Thursday’s meeting, which was held virtually and chaired by president Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa said it and its 55 member associations “stand as one”.<\/p>\n
“We unanimously and unequivocally reject Fifa’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors,” it said.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Uefa had accused Fifa of using football “to enrich themselves and their friends”.<\/p>\n
Its statement on Thursday was even more damning, calling it “irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret” and “without any meaningful consultation” with those who steward the game.<\/p>\n
It added: “This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football.<\/p>\n
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
While Uefa only accounts for a quarter of Fifa’s membership, it does include most of the world’s most successful teams.<\/p>\n
Six of the eight quarter-finalists – including winners Spain – at this summer’s World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively.<\/p>\n
Of the 23 World Cups to have taken place to date, 13 have been won by European countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n