CONCACAF issues FIFA World Cup boycott statement as Gianni Infantino told ‘resign’ | Football | Sport

CONCACAF, the football governing body for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and its members have issued a statement condemning FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plans to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Members held a meeting to discuss the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) on Thursday, with the confederation saying in a statement: “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.”

Although it made no mention of a boycott, it is understood the sentiment expressed by the vast majority of CONCACAF members is they are losing confidence, or have lost confidence, in the ability of Infantino to continue as FIFA president.

European nations also pledged to boycott all its competitions until FIFA’s plans to sell off stakes to private investors is scrapped.

UEFA reacted furiously when the plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) first emerged in media reports in The Times and the Financial Times on Tuesday saying its opposition is “unanimous and unequivocal”.

UEFA’s 55 member associations insisted they would not participate in any FIFA tournament until the plan was withdrawn, with the battle lines between the European and global governing bodies now firmly drawn.

FIFA’s plans were publicly backed by president Gianni Infantino with an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner – the brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – waiting in the wings to secure a minority stake in the new venture.

FIFA also said up to 40 million US dollars (£30m) in development funding would be available to associations willing to participate in the plan in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup alone. UEFA, however, said it was against handing over stakes to private investors. “The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever,” UEFA said.

The English FA said it stood “shoulder to shoulder” with other European governing bodies in supporting the boycott stance, while the Scottish, Welsh and Irish FAs and the FA of Ireland also said they agreed with the position UEFA had taken.

A possible boycott would first hit the Women’s Under-20 World Cup, due to be staged in Poland in September. The big FIFA event on the longer-term horizon though is the senior Women’s World Cup in Brazil next summer.