UEFA vs. Fifa

Day -969. ‪WorldCup2018‬.

A conversation I had a couple of days ago got me thinking about the possibility of UEFA splitting from Fifa. Could it happen? Of course it could, but will it? A researched opinion was needed and more may come but here's a start.

Fifa is the governing body of football.

The members of Fifa are the 209 national football associations.

The continental confederations, including UEFA, are not members of Fifa.

The confederations provide support for Fifa; they run football in their continents.

Fifa runs the World Cup, World Club Cup. UEFA runs the European Championships, the Champions League.

If UEFA split from Fifa they would have to set up a separate governing body. The national associations would have to cease being members of Fifa and join the new UEFA body (legal ramifications have to be investigated further). Let's call it UEFA 2.

European players would now be members of UEFA 2. They could play in UEFA 2 competitions. Non-European players playing with European clubs would have to choose playing for their clubs in UEFA 2 competitions or for their non-UEFA 2 countries.

Non-European countries could join UEFA 2. Therefore UEFA 2 could organize a "World Cup" with these countries involved.

Fifa would have its own World Cup.

Players from non-UEFA 2 countries who choose to play in UEFA 2 competitions (eg Champions League) would not be able to play in Fifa's World Cup.

Fifa's World Cup would be diluted, with less countries and of lesser stature. And if the bigger countries did play, they would be without the big star players who choose to play in UEFA 2 competitions. Fifa's World Cup would be less attractive.

What would the major sponsors do? They would go to where the big players are, to what people want to watch on tv. Fifa's competitions would lose more value; no big sponsors, no big players.

The Russia question. If UEFA 2 was set up before Russia 2018 and the European countries didn't participate in Russia 2018, it is inconceivable that Russia would join UEFA 2. They would most likely join the Asian confederation.

One more interesting situation. Fifa doesn't administer the rules of football. This is done by the International Football Association Board, the IFAB.

The IFAB's voting power is 50% Fifa, 50% the boards of the British Fa's.

If UEFA splits from Fifa the British boards would opt out of the IFAB, not wanting to work with Fifa.

Would there now be two sets of rules, one administered by the British boards or a new UEFA 2 board, and one by Fifa. Could there be two "codes" like rugby union and rugby league.

Of course this is all hypothetical. There was more talk of this when the initial investigations into UEFA started with talk of splitting and boycotts. It has died down a bit now. And it's all a little murkier with Platini's reported ties with Fifa. If a European candidate, Platini or Infantino, wins the Fifa presidential election then maybe UEFA will stay on board. If one of the other hopefuls wins then will UEFA leave in protest?

And on top of this, my very general overview, there are many more political and legal ramifications that have to be looked into.

Do I think it will happen? No. But what I do believe is that, under Platini, have been trying harder to become bigger than Fifa. The European Championships which had 8 teams up until 1992 will have 24 teams next year. Was this because of Platini's vision of growing football in Europe? Doubtful. More teams means more matches, more advertising, more sponsors. Platini, I believe, wants the Euros to be a bigger event than the World Cup. Next step? Invite guest teams from South America, than Africa and Asia. And there you have your UEFA World Cup. And all those countries are still members of Fifa, so are allowed to compete.

Simple view? Sure. But something big is coming.