By Paul Nicholson
May 24 – If there was any lingering doubt that the relationship between former UEFA general-secretary-turned-FIFA-president Gianni Infantino and the head of the European governing body Aleksander Ceferin was strained, those doubts were blown out the water by a speech by Ceferin to the Council of European Union Sports Ministers in Brussels yesterday (Wednesday).
It was an assault on the integrity of the FIFA president from within his confederation cohorts, the likes of which have not been seen since the darkest days of the last FIFA election in which Sepp Blatter stood in 2015. And at this point there is not even an election in sight.
Referring to Infantino’s plans to reorganise the global football calendar with two new FIFA competitions and to sell the rights to an investment fund for $25 billion, Ceferin said: “I cannot accept that some people who are blinded by the pursuit of profit are considering to sell the soul of football tournaments to nebulous private funds.
“Money does not rule – and the European sports model must be respected. Football is not for sale. I will not let anyone sacrifice its structures on the altar of a highly cynical and ruthless mercantilism.”
At the centre of Ceferin’s message to EU sports ministers was the importance of solidarity and a fair financial distribution of money throughout the game, a principle he said was at the heart of UEFA’s philosophy.
In a jibe aimed at Infantino’s own financial and political manoeuvring and his pending re-election in 2019, he said: “As long as I am UEFA President, there will be no room for pursuing selfish endeavours or hiding behind false pretences.”
Ceferin emphasised that it was UEFA’s business and responsibility to govern the game in its own region, not the responsibility of FIFA. “Over many years, football has become so much more than just a game, a passion or entertainment,” he said. “It brings together half a billion European citizens, regardless of age, class and religion. It brings the hope of the future. It is part of Europe’s shared culture.
“As the governing body for football in Europe, UEFA represents the first social movement of this continent. It is an important responsibility,” he continued as he championed the need for competitive balance within the game.
There is some irony in that it is a point that was made multiple times by Infantino when referring to UEFA’s financial fair play when he was an employee of UEFA, and in an era that was not so long ago but now seems long past. Part of Infantino’s legacy was that he left UEFA with major issues to resolve with its clubs and leagues when he moved to FIFA.
These are issues and divisions he has attempted to re-ignite having taken the FIFA throne as he launches raids on Europe’s commercial platform of its Champions League and new Nations League competition and looks to solidify a political supremacy over Europe. It is not just Europe he has in sights but also the emerging economic power of Asia in football.
Cefering called on EU member state governments and the European Commission to work with and support UEFA. “Do not sit idly by … do not adopt a wait-and-see policy,” he said. “You should share this objective that we strive to meet: the openness and unpredictability of competitions.”
Citing the EURO 2020 final tournament to be staged in 12 cities across Europe as “a one-in-a-kind opportunity to celebrate Europe together” he said: “I want to build up the future on the basis of collaboration and cooperation,” he said. “European football is stronger when it brings together all stakeholders around the same, common objectives.
“Altogether, we can portray a strong, unified Europe and demonstrate our joint commitment to bringing positive changes across the European continent.”
The message to Infantino is very clear. If he expects to eat UEFA’s lunch with his new competition proposals, he can expect the mother of all food fights.
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