Nicosia: The unanimous decision by the 55 European federations to reject FIFA's proposal to allow private investors access to the commercial rights of its competitions was highlighted by the President of the Cyprus Football Association, Haris Loizides, during his address at the extraordinary UEFA meeting.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Loizides emphasised that UEFA should step up its contacts and coordination with the other confederations, with the aim of creating a strong and broader front to reject this specific proposal.
He also noted the need for serious consideration of how to utilise FIFA's financial surpluses, particularly following the significant revenue generated by the World Cup, so that these funds are returned to football in a transparent manner and support the development of the sport and the national associations.
He added that UEFA has an institutional obligation to protect the value, autonomy and integrity of its flagship competitions, such as the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Conference League and UEFA EURO.
'The Cyprus Football Association joined the other 54 UEFA member federations in sending a clear message of unity, solidarity and the defence of football's interests. As highlighted in UEFA's statement, the World Cup is a shared footballing heritage and cannot be treated merely as an investment product,' the press release concluded.