UEFA hails FIFA private equity reversal, calls for review: ‘No option should be off the table’

The Union of European Football Association (UEFA) on Saturday celebrated FIFA’s decision to not sell a portion of World Cup profits to private equity, after the group threatened to boycott the tournament if the investments went through.

UEFA issued a statement welcoming the reversal but called for accountability for those in leadership promoting “secret schemes on fast track timescales” that are “of dubious benefit to the game.” The federation also signaled a review was on the horizon.

“We must identify those responsible and hold them to account,” the group wrote. “It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.”

“That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table,” it continues. “The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”

Under the plan, FIFA sought private investments around $10 billion in exchange........

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