European countries have agreed to boycott all Fifa competitions if Gianni Infantino pushes forward with his proposals to sell chunks of the World Cup to US-based private investment.

In an extraordinary development all 55 Uefa members resolved not to participate in future World Cups or other Fifa-run events, saying in a statement that they “unanimously and unequivocally reject” the proposals. An emergency meeting that lasted just short of two hours ended with a united front despite earlier fears that smaller countries, attracted by the money on offer through Infantino’s scheme, would be swayed in favour.

European FAs are expected to write to Fifa this week with a formal notification of their threat to boycott future tournaments unless the planned World Cup sell-off is withdrawn.

The FAI released a brief statement on Thursday night following the earlier announcement.

It read: “The Football Association of Ireland supports UefaA along with all member associations in rejecting Fifa’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the Fifa World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors.

“The Association believes that decisions of this significance must be founded on strong governance, transparency and meaningful consultation. In solidarity with Uefa’s position, Ireland’s national teams will not participate in Fifa competitions while these proposals remain under consideration.”

It means Infantino faces an uphill battle to push his plan forward. Countries had been given until September 19th to sign up but there will now be significant pressure to drastically revise his scheme or withdraw it completely. While the majority of European FAs had submitted letters of support in favour of his re-election next March, such a decisive line in the sand from Uefa weakens his position dramatically.

Uefa’s statement confirmed the decision. “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,” it read.

Thursday’s meeting was introduced by the Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, with executive committee members and Uefa’s Fifa council representatives also addressing delegates. Those early speeches are understood to have set the tone, with around 20 further FA heads taking the floor and multiple sources describing an atmosphere of “unity”.

Along the lines spelt out by Uefa, at senior level the proposed boycott would begin with next year’s Women’s World Cup, while the first age-group Fifa tournament to be boycotted is likely to be the Under-20 Women’s World Cup. It is due to take place in Poland from September 5th with six of the 24 competitors due to represent Uefa countries.

The European governing body invited other confederations to follow their lead. Uefa are understood to be confident that a number of Asian countries, in particular, are similarly minded. Infantino’s strongholds traditionally lie outside Europe and a collapse in support elsewhere could have severe consequences for the Fifa president.

“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences,” Uefa said. “This is not a ‘democratic decision’, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.”

Sources within European football believe Uefa’s decision increases the chances of a Europe-backed candidate running against Infantino in next year’s Fifa election, which he had been expected to sail through without opposition.

Meanwhile, Concacaf and ‌its 41 member associations rejected the proposal during ​a meeting on Thursday but stopped short of following Uefa’s ​plan to boycott the global showcase.

The regional bloc for North ‌America, ‌Central ​America and the Caribbean said its membership expressed “deep ​concerns” about the ​lack of due process ‌surrounding the proposal, ​a short deadline and the absence of any ​review or approval by relevant Fifa governance bodies.

“The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance,” ‌Concacaf said in a press release. “For these reasons, Concacaf and ‌its 41 Member Associations have: Rejected ​the proposal.” – Guardian