UEFA says will boycott World Cup if FIFA pushes private investor proposal

European football's governing body UEFA escalated its conflict with FIFA on Thursday, announcing it would boycott the World Cup and all FIFA competitions if the organization proceeded with its private investor proposals. Per UEFA's statement, no European national teams will participate in any FIFA event so long as these proposals remain on the table, unless FIFA abandons them entirely and provides binding assurances that its governance and competitions will never open to private ownership. The standoff puts European participation in world football's biggest tournament in serious question.

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