Uefa’s Ceferin tells Infantino football has no need for ’emperors’

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin harshly criticized Fifa president Gianni Infantino following the latter's unsuccessful proposal to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. Ceferin, addressing the European Football Clubs general assembly in Copenhagen, declared that football has no need for "emperors" and emphasized that football is greater than those governing it. He stated, "We are custodians, we are not owners. Nobody has the right to sell its future."

Ceferin's remark came after Uefa expressed strong opposition to Infantino's plan, which eventually led to the threat of a boycott of Fifa-organized tournaments. Uefa has also filed a lawsuit in a Florida court to access documents related to Infantino's plan, aiming to build evidence for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland. The organization's general secretary, Mattias Grafstrom, was present during Ceferin's address, though Infantino was not.

The Uefa chief likened Infantino to the emperor in Hans Christian Andersen's tale "The Emperor's New Clothes," highlighting how the world football governing body dismissed the proposal, much like the child who pointed out the emperor's nudity. Ceferin emphasized that money can aid growth, but it should never dictate decisions. He urged Europe to speak out against such actions, maintaining that football is larger and more significant than any individual.

Numerous top European national associations have also distanced themselves from Infantino's re-election bid, backing Ceferin's continued leadership in protecting the sport.