Uefa is preparing its response to the Fifa stake plan after Gianni Infantino told member associations they could receive $40m if they support his proposal to open up stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup. The push has set off a fierce backlash across football, with European leaders accusing Fifa of forcing through a deal that would change the sport’s finances and governance.
Infantino has given football federations until 19 September to accept the plan if they want access to an initial $20m payment. In a letter seen by the BBC, he argued that the money would come from selling a minority share in a commercial arm tied to Fifa’s main events. Fifa says the move would help create a subsidiary to boost revenue, while external investors would be able to buy in. Infantino later described the offer as optional and said it was part of a consultation process, not a demand.
Uefa’s reaction was immediate and unusually sharp. The confederation said it had learned of the deadline only after the plan had become public and argued that the episode showed exactly why so many people in the game distrust the proposal. In its statement, Uefa said there was rising opposition and insisted that football should be developed in a way that puts associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans first. It has already called an emergency meeting of its 55 members this week, and the possibility of a boycott is expected to be discussed.
The scale of the anger reaches well beyond Europe. Concacaf said it was deeply concerned about the lack of due process, while the French Football Federation said member federations had not been involved and lacked the detail needed to assess a plan that could shape the future of the sport. The Asian Football Confederation also stressed that any proposal of this size must be built on good governance, transparency and real consultation. La Liga president Javier Tebas went further, accusing Infantino of trying to buy votes before the next Fifa Congress in March.
