“Women’s football is the first victim of FIFA’s plans.”

The controversial proposal by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in competitions to private investors could have devastating consequences for women's football. The warning comes from Anita Asante, former defender for the England national team, who emphasizes that women's tournaments would be the first to suffer. On Thursday, the 55 member associations of European football voted in favor of a boycott of all FIFA competitions until the organization abandons its privatization intentions.

The immediate impact of UEFA's position will be tested at the upcoming U-20 Women's World Cup, which starts on September 5 in Poland. Asante told BBC Sport: “The first victims will be women's football tournaments. I don’t believe FIFA has considered the implications of its decision.” The Polish Football Association (PZPN) stated that it has not yet received any information about teams that may withdraw from the competition, and that preparations are continuing as planned.

In October, teams such as England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have qualifications for next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil. Additionally, the U-17 Women's World Cup is scheduled for October in Morocco. Asante expressed her frustration: “That’s what is so frustrating for the players. You can’t take the opportunity to play in the World Cup for granted. If this isn’t resolved by the time of England’s qualifications, the impact could be huge, and there’s already a full schedule.”

In response to UEFA's boycott, FIFA stated that “no one is selling football” and claimed that the consultation process was “disturbed by incorrect media reports.” Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America, expressed its rejection of FIFA's proposal, as did the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which stood in solidarity with the European federations and those from Central America and the Caribbean.

Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to Infantino, resigned from his position, stating that the proposal was “a bad deal for football” and would “mortgage the future of the sport.” Asante praised UEFA's position, stating: “It is taking away what the essence of football represents and what the tournaments are. Women could once again be the victims here.”

Baroness Sue Campbell, former director of women's football at the FA, described the situation as “tragic,” emphasizing the importance of a pure sport, while acknowledging the relevance of commercial investment. Infantino is proposing the creation of a commercial subsidiary to manage major events, allowing external investors to buy stakes. The deadline for football federations to accept Infantino's controversial plans is September 19. The document prepared by investment bank JP Morgan does not mention women's football, a concerning sign of FIFA's priorities.