Europe’s leading clubs have issued a stern ultimatum, threatening to boycott future Club World Cups unless Gianni Infantino withdraws his controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme. This warning came just hours before the plan was ultimately abandoned.

In a letter dated 31 July, addressed to Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafström and signed by EFC chief executive Charlie Marshall, the European Football Clubs (EFC) group indicated that their future cooperation with tournaments would depend on Infantino's retraction. They emphasized that a joint venture with Fifa, already agreed upon, must be finalized before selling television rights for the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup.

Key points from the EFC's letter include:

• Infantino’s actions could breach the existing memorandum of understanding (MoU), risking its termination.
• EFC may challenge the international match calendar and player release rules, essential for national team tournaments.
• The impression that FFE would monopolize broadcasting, commercial, and sponsorship rights was a major concern.

Following the backlash, Infantino scrapped the FFE on 1 August. EFC’s letter cautioned that without a viable Fifa-EFC joint venture ahead of the women’s 2028 Fifa CWC, European clubs would withdraw from future tournaments, including the 2028 and 2029 Fifa CWC.

Fifa has reportedly promised to expedite discussions to keep the joint venture moving forward. Many clubs across Europe expressed frustration over the lack of consultation regarding the FFE's design, with one major club indicating support for EFC in any potential collective action.

The implications of a European boycott would be significant, as EFC and Fifa jointly managed last year’s Club World Cup, which featured 32 teams. The letter also highlighted ongoing delays in distributing £185m of solidarity funds to clubs not participating in the tournament, seeking transparency in financial performance.

EFC’s influence, led by Nasser al-Khelaifi of Paris Saint-Germain, underscores its growing power in football, raising concerns among various stakeholders about the balance of influence in the sport. The letter demanded Fifa fulfill a previous commitment to integrate Al-Khelaifi into its decision-making council, hinting at a potential expansion of EFC’s role on a global scale.