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Discussion summary

UEFA and many of its member states are considering boycotting FIFA competitions due to corruption concerns and disagreements over governance. The dispute highlights tensions between UEFA, FIFA, and the broader football community, with some viewing FIFA's operations as corrupt and driven by financial interests.

What the discussion says

  • UEFA members are outraged and considering withdrawal from FIFA events.
  • FIFA has a history of corruption, with investigations involving the USA.
  • Some see the boycott as a move against FIFA's financial practices.
  • Others argue the issue is about governance and transparency.
  • There is debate over the financial implications for global football.
“50 of the 55 UEFA states expressed outrage at FIFA.”
— CodingJeebus
“FIFA has had a taste of the money involved in professional sports.”
— glitchc

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  • Hacker News
  • > As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.

    This seems to have actual teeth. What's Infantino going to do to save face? No one cares about a world cup without the Europeans.

    by barbazoo
  • About time

    Hard to think of a modern institution as corrupt as fifa. That may not bother too many people because it’s not their government, but I just think it stinks

    by shmuli9
  • Why only now? UEFA should boycott the world cup, period. It should have been enough even before the Balogun nonsense. They have the best league and the best teams, they have the know how and could easily host the UEFA World Cup.

    They could host a tournament without the pay-to-win arbitrary overruling of red cards and the clownish half time entertainment. Nobody would care about the FIFA World Cup.

    Fork it!

    by xorcist

  •     The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure. From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
    These words apply to any investment. It's worth considering as part of any business, including many of the businesses we're here to watch grow - the moment you have others involved as equity partners, the entire culture has to change. Do it consciously, or not at all.
    by PaulRobinson
  • “Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return.” Very well said…replace the word football with internet/technology/web/research/university or so many others and you might understand why this single powerful phrase is so important.
    by NKosmatos
  • This is so highly unusual even sports-allergic HN wants to discuss it. It's like a religious schism in some sense.
    by triceratops
  • First off, fire Infantino on the spot, just the same way they fired Blatter for corruption.

    This last world cup was the worse I've ever seen since 1978, almost 50 years, and I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly. We all know billions are moved under the table, but money can never break rules and traditions, specially if they don't benefit fans and players above all

    Did anybody ask the players about the hydration break? About increasing teams to 48, now to 64? More games is more possibility of injuries and benched players are no good for the show. So always be careful about wanting more golden eggs, the goose may be exhausted already

    by Kuyawa
  • Infantino clearly wants to see FIFA making billions so he and many others can pocket millions legally. But the only way for this to happen in a non-corrupt way, given that FIFA is non-profit and therefore requires a lot of questionable operations, is to turn FIFA into a business like NFL / MLS.

    The problem with that is that it then it is no longer a sport, rather a... business.

    UEFA letter is spot on.

    by brunoborges

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