UEFA temporarily suspends decision on European national teams' withdrawal from FIFA competitions
Geneva, Aug 27 (KUNA) -- The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) decided on Thursday to temporarily suspend its decision to withdraw European national teams from FIFA competitions in the upcoming season, following the latter’s commitment to provide written guarantees to definitively withdraw the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” project and not to re-introduce it in any form, shape, name, or structure.
This was stated in a statement issued from Monaco following a meeting that included representatives of national associations that are members of UEFA’s Executive Committee, European members of the FIFA Council, and heads of European national associations present there. The meeting coincided with the draw for European club competitions for the 2026–2027 season.
The statement emphasized that abandoning the project does not erase what was described as “deception, intimidation, and abuse of power that made its launch possible,” nor does it restore the trust that has been lost.
UEFA clarified that the temporary suspension includes European national teams’ participation in FIFA competitions during the upcoming season, including the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, the Under-17 World Cup, and the Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
It noted that the meeting discussed the repercussions of the FIFA President’s attempt, described as “failed,” to sell a stake in the World Cup to investors outside the international federation. This step was considered indicative of “a profound failure of judgment and an abuse of presidential authority,” as well as suggesting a concept of leadership that contradicts the responsibilities of the highest position in global football.
The statement announced that participants unanimously decided to authorize the UEFA President and its management to take all available institutional, political, and legal measures necessary to achieve fundamental reforms, restore appropriate limits to presidential authority, and ensure that FIFA is managed as an institution rather than around a single individual.
UEFA called for a genuinely independent external review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, as well as full access to all related documents, correspondence, and decision-making records. It stressed that FIFA cannot investigate itself and then ask the football family to accept its findings.
UEFA affirmed that the crisis goes beyond governance issues, noting that the trust required to hold the position of FIFA President “has been broken,” and that restoring it cannot be achieved through the withdrawal of a single proposal, the issuance of assurances, or the offering of promises for reform. It emphasized that global football now needs new leadership capable of rebuilding this trust, expressing its determination to continue working with continental confederations, member associations, and various stakeholders in the football ecosystem, including fans, players, clubs, and leagues, to help shape the future of FIFA.
It added that if the current FIFA President seeks a new term, UEFA will cooperate with partner associations to ensure that member associations have a credible alternative committed to integrity, accountability, development, and genuine institutional change.
In the same context, UEFA confirmed that FIFA currently holds billions of dollars in reserves, which are funds belonging to member associations. It questioned the reasons that led the FIFA President to believe he needed external investors to expand the financing of development projects.
UEFA also expressed its intention, in cooperation with other continental confederations, to explore the responsible release of a portion of these reserves in favor of member associations, while simultaneously maintaining the financial stability of the international federation.
UEFA stressed that the issue is not about choosing between good governance and the development of football, nor is it about Europe seeking greater influence within FIFA, but rather about ensuring that no part of global football is dependent on the authority of a single individual.
It emphasized that FIFA must fulfill its fundamental responsibility to support all member associations, and that this responsibility must be strengthened, not weakened. It affirmed that development must be “an institutional commitment, not a presidential favor,” and that no member association should be forced to choose between the resources it deserves and its freedom to exercise independent governance.
It further stressed that FIFA’s resources designated for development must not become tools for personal or political influence, but should remain the property of global football, protected by transparent and objective rules. It underscored the necessity of managing FIFA as an institution that serves football, not as a tool in the hands of an individual authority. (End) A.M.K. / R.J.
