After UEFA’s boycott, will Concacaf be next? Infantino’s World Cup privatization plan crumbles

UEFA was the first of FIFA‘s six continental governing bodies to issue a statement saying that it will not be held to ransom by Gianni Infantino and his World Cup privatization plan.

UEFA, along with CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC and OFC, were given 53 days to accept FIFA’s controversial plan to sell of stakes in several of its major tournaments, including both the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup, to private investors.

CONCACAF issued a statement on Wednesday, to inform that it had only found out about FIFA’s privatization plan through the media and the confederation is deeply concerned that there has been no dialogue with the relevant governance bodies regrading the issue. The AFC also expressed its disappointment, stating that it had “taken note” of FIFA’s announcement regarding the proposed creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise — but emphasized that it was not consulted at any stage. The confederation expressed frustration that a matter of such importance was revealed publicly before the AFC “family” could examine it through established governance processes.

UEFA and FIFA, conflicting opinions

So what could happen next? CONCACAF does not carry the same weight as UEFA when it comes to dealing with FIFA. For example, there are 16 slots for European teams in the new, expanded men’s World Cup - that is a sizable chunk out of the 48 participants compared to the six slots allocated to the CONCACAF region. If UEFA press ahead with their promise to boycott FIFA tournaments, that would be a huge headache for Infantino.

The next men’s World Cup is four years away and a lot could happen between now and then, but the women’s tournament is scheduled for next year with 11 of the 32 slots set aside for UEFA teams. That’s nearly a third of those taking part. A boycott would also affect the two qualifying rounds, scheduled for October and December as well as the playoffs. If no resolution is found before the September 19 deadline, this would be the first FIFA tournament to be impacted by a boycott.

CONCACAF has expressed its dismay at FIFA’s plan but there was no mention of a boycott in yesterday’s statement, although that could change following today’s new developments.

Politics and soccer

Its statement was firm but diplomatic. Unlike Aleksander Cerefin, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has a good relationship with Infantino - one that goes back a long way. So it’s unlikely that we will see Montagliani jeopardizing that mutual support by siding with UEFA or rocking the boat.

From the wording of their statement, we can infer that CONCACAF is holding out for an amicable solution.

“As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, FIFA, the Confederations and every Member Association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport. Every decision we make must be guided by good governance, robust processes and long-term stewardship.This is the framework within which Concacaf operates. We trust that all within the FIFA family will act in the same manner”.

In the modern world, nothing sacred is immune from being politicized, and/or monetized - and sadly that includes soccer. The next few weeks will be crucial in how UEFA’s standoff with FIFA pans out, and whether others will unite with them.

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