European football's governing body, Uefa, has expressed "furious" opposition to reports that Fifa plans to sell stakes in its competitions, including the World Cup. Fifa, the global governing body, reportedly intends to seek private investment to expand football development funding to over $10bn (£7.5bn), a move it claims is for game growth, pending member association approval.

According to reports in the Financial Times and The Times, these plans could potentially generate tens of millions of pounds for Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Uefa strongly condemned the proposals, stating in a released statement, "This crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross."

Uefa further emphasized its stance by declaring, "None of us are the owners of football. [The World Cup] is not Fifa's to sell." The strong reaction highlights a significant rift between the two major football organizations over the potential commercialization of the sport's premier tournament.