'Huge' - Ex-Everton chief Keith Wyness rips into UEFA amid ‘scaremongering’ over FIFA plan
UEFA’s proposed plan to have their members boycott the next World Cup if FIFA sell shares in the tournament is likely to fall by the wayside.
That is according to former Everton chief executive and ex-Premier League board member Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the governing body are guilty of “scaremongering” amid FIFA’s latest plan.
Gianni Infantino and Co. are planning to sell shares in their tournaments to private investors, with the money raised then set to be distributed across their 211 members for footballing development.
Wyness believes that UEFA’s discontent will “blow over” in time, and feels that there is little they can do to prevent Infantino and FIFA from getting their way.
He has stood by FIFA’s plans, and believes that they should be “applauded” for their scheme in time, provided that the increased funding is used for the correct purposes.
UEFA have already issued a strongly worded statement showing their anger towards the plan, but Wyness believes they won’t take it as far as arranging a boycott of the next World Cup.
Keith Wyness points out UEFA ‘hypocrisy’
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that UEFA have shown “hypocrisy” in their strong stance against FIFA’s plans.
The Scottish businessman pointed out that the European leaders have increased the number of games in the Champions League, while an increasing number of tickets are now going to sponsors.
He believes that UEFA are guilty of the same issues that have been labelled at FIFA of late, and feels this is merely a continuation of the “power struggle” between the two.
“I think it will blow over. The point about UEFA boycotting the World Cup, I don’t think it will go that level,” Wyness said.
“There’s a huge amount of scaremongering going on about the World Cup happening every year; I don’t think that will happen. I don’t think it’s in anybody’s interests to see the World Cup stopped or boycotted.
“We’ve seen with UEFA and the Champions League getting more and more commercial. We’ve seen them increase the number of games and the amount of tickets going to sponsors.
“I find a bit of hypocrisy from UEFA over this, but it seems to be all about the power struggle in world football politics between UEFA and FIFA. They’re just as guilty of not looking after the game as the accusations towards FIFA.
“There’s a lot of noise right now, but if we keep ourselves focused on where the money will go, and if it does go into football, then we should be applauding it.”
Wyness ‘can’t see a problem’ with FIFA proposal
Wyness has also told Football Insider that he “can’t see a problem” with FIFA’s proposal, as long as the funding it will generate is used in the correct way.
He outlined that the increased funding could have a transformational impact on the infrastructure of some of the less established nations, but warned that it would be wrong if the cash fell into the pockets of individuals.
The former boardroom man has defended FIFA for “creating value” that will flow back into football, and believes it is inevitable that their proposal will be passed.
Football associations have until 19 September to come forward and back or oppose the proposal, when a final verdict will then be reached.