Real Madrid has commended UEFA for its role in safeguarding football “at a critical juncture” following FIFA’s decision to withdraw its plans to sell shares in a World Cup enterprise to private investors.
FIFA faced opposition from three different confederations, leading to the abandonment of the contentious proposal, which represents a considerable blow to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
UEFA had previously vowed to boycott FIFA events if the proposal remained and escalated pressure on Infantino by asserting that he had “lost the confidence” of the organization overseeing European football.
UEFA is contemplating further measures, including the potential initiation of a no-confidence vote against Infantino, which would necessitate support from 43 FIFA member nations.
“Real Madrid appreciates the decision made by FIFA to retract the proposal for the partial sale of the commercial rights to its competitions,” stated the 15-time European champions.
The statement continued, “We believe this is a positive development for football, its institutions, and, most importantly, for the millions of fans of our cherished sport.
“Real Madrid expresses its gratitude to UEFA, the confederations and federations, as well as all the institutions that stood firmly and responsibly against this initiative. Their solidarity and sense of duty have protected football at a pivotal moment.”
In addition to UEFA, Concacaf, which oversees football in North, Central America, and the Caribbean, along with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), also voiced their opposition to the plans.
Infantino had sought endorsement from national associations to form the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company intended to manage the commercial and operational aspects of its competitions, including both the men’s and women’s World Cups.
The most contentious part of the proposal involved the suggested sale of a 20% stake to private investors.
Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino on global strategy and governance, resigned over the issue, labeling the proposal as “a detrimental deal for football” that would “compromise the future of the sport.”
FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour, remarked that the governing body’s administration had been “misled” about the project.
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“Clubs are the cornerstone upon which national team football and the World Cup are founded,” the Real Madrid statement added.
“These clubs are responsible for discovering, training, and developing the players who bring these prestigious competitions to life.
“National team football and the World Cup are primarily matters of public interest, forming a legacy that belongs to nations, fans, and society as a whole.
“For this reason, we firmly believe they should never be treated as mere financial assets intended for the benefit of a select few.”