UEFA have accused FIFA of bribing national associations to back a proposal that would sell a £3 billion stake in the World Cup to private investors, as tensions between the two governing bodies sharpen.
FIFA wrote to associations on Wednesday to explain the leaked plan, confirming that a £30m funding package would be made available to associations that approve the private investment scheme. FIFA president Gianni Infantino set a September 19 deadline for associations to decide.
UEFA fired back, saying the deadline and the threat to withdraw the payout if associations declined said everything about the plan. The organisation said FIFA could not continue to use the sport to enrich themselves and their friends, and called for priorities to shift toward associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.
Sources told Daily Mail Sport that UEFA scheduled crisis talks with all 55 member nations for Thursday.
Under the proposal, FIFA would create a company called FIFA Forward Enterprise to handle commercial activity and operational delivery of its tournaments. Investment bank J.P. Morgan is serving as FIFA's financial adviser, while Joshua Kushner's Thrive Capital is expected to lead the investor group. Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump. The investor group is thought to include sovereign wealth funds.
The European Leagues Association, of which the Premier League is a founding member, said the World Cup was not FIFA president's private equity asset and firmly rejected the proposal.
Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, called it a worrying project that raises many questions, noting it touches on one of football's fundamental assets without sufficient detail having been provided.
The Confederation of African Football took a more measured tone, saying it remained committed to consulting with FIFA and other confederations on increasing resources for football's development.
