UEFA members unanimously voted to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, in protest of FIFA's plan to create a new commercial subsidiary valued at $20 billion and sell a minority stake to investors.

The European football governing body called an emergency meeting of its 55 members to discuss a response to FIFA's proposal. After the vote, UEFA stated: "UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions."

"Some things are simply too important to sell," UEFA said in a statement. "The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale."

German FA President Bernd Neuendorf called the plan "extremely problematic and unacceptable," warning that without UEFA's support, investors would likely back out. Other confederations, including CONCACAF and AFC, also expressed concerns over lack of consultation.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the plan in a video, calling it a "golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally." However, UEFA and other bodies remain opposed, fearing the plan could lead to more tournaments and matches to boost investor returns.

Source: www.dw.com