AFFA comments on possible boycott of FIFA tournaments

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) is studying the question of possible participation in a collective position of European football associations following UEFA's decision to announce a boycott of FIFA tournaments.

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) commented on the situation that arose after UEFA announced its intention to boycott FIFA tournaments if plans to attract private investment in the commercial rights of international competitions are implemented.

In response to an inquiry from 1news.az, AFFA stated: "We are studying the question."

So far, the association has not specified whether Azerbaijan will support the collective position of the European football federations.

Earlier, UEFA stated that the national associations that are part of it unanimously supported the decision to boycott FIFA tournaments, including World Cups, if the leadership of the international federation does not abandon the initiative to sell a stake in a new commercial structure that will manage the largest tournaments under the aegis of FIFA. According to UEFA, the World Cup "cannot be regarded as an investment product," and such plans threaten the principles of governance of world football.

FIFA, for its part, insists that the reform will make it possible to attract additional funds for the development of football while retaining full control over the sporting component of the competitions.