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FIFA boss Infantino blasted as would-be 'emperor' by UEFA's Ceferin / Photo: Odd ANDERSEN - AFP/File
FIFA boss Infantino blasted as would-be 'emperor' by UEFA's Ceferin
UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin on Tuesday launched an attack against FIFA president Gianni Infantino following his failed proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, insisting that "football has no need for emperors".
"Yes, let's grow, let's innovate, let's make our clubs and competitions even more successful, but let's never forget that football is bigger than those who govern it. We are custodians, we are not owners. Nobody has the right to sell its future," the head of European football's governing body told the European Football Clubs (EFC) general assembly in Copenhagen.
UEFA, whose clubs and national teams dominate football's global economy, has been outspoken in its opposition to Infantino ever since it emerged in late July that FIFA was aiming to create a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.
It said it would consider boycotting FIFA-organised tournaments before suspending that threat after receiving written assurances in late August that world football's governing body would not try to revive the sell-off plans.
UEFA has also gone to a court in the US state of Florida in an attempt to access documents related to Infantino's failed plan with the aim of gathering evidence for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland -- UEFA and FIFA are both based there.
The latter has responded to that by accusing the European body of a "misinformation campaign" and saying that UEFA was attempting to "influence" the FIFA presidential election scheduled for next year.
- 'Time to say enough' -
Ceferin used his address to delegates of the powerful EFC organisation in the Danish capital to liken Infantino to the emperor in the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Emperor's New Clothes".
"We all know the story. An emperor is persuaded that he is wearing magnificent clothes, clothes which he thought only the foolish or unfit could not see," Ceferin said.
"His court goes along with it until a child says aloud what everyone can see -- the emperor is naked.
"Perhaps the moral of this story is that convenient words cannot change uncomfortable realities."
"My friends, I think it is time to say enough," he added, with Infantino not in attendance but FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom in the room.
"Money can help the game grow, but it should never decide what we let go, never. Europe should make no apology for saying so."
Numerous leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino in his bid to be re-elected president of FIFA next year.
Nasser al-Khelaifi, the Paris Saint-Germain president who is also chairman of the EFC, lamented that time was being wasted "dealing with these problems and issues".
"Football works when we listen to each other, when we are transparent," said the Qatari, who is close to Ceferin. "Football is bigger and more important than any one of us."
He also backed Ceferin to stand again to be re-elected president of UEFA next year, saying "we need strong leadership like you to protect our sport".
R.Agosti--INP
