Real Madrid has commended Uefa for its role in safeguarding the integrity of football following Fifa’s decision to abandon plans to sell stakes in a company managing World Cup rights to private investors. The withdrawal of the controversial proposal marks a significant setback for Fifa president Gianni Infantino amid strong opposition from multiple football confederations.

The proposal had faced firm resistance from Uefa, Concacaf, which oversees football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, and the Asian Football Confederation. Uefa went as far as to threaten a boycott of Fifa competitions and stated that Infantino had “lost the confidence” of European football’s governing body. The organization is also reportedly considering further action, including the possibility of initiating a no-confidence vote against the president.

In a statement, Real Madrid described Fifa’s reversal as positive news for the sport, its institutions, and fans worldwide. The Spanish club praised Uefa alongside the confederations and national federations for their united stance against the plan, which it said helped protect football “at a decisive moment.”

“Clubs are the foundation on which national team football and the World Cup are built,” Real Madrid emphasized, arguing that national teams and the World Cup are events of public interest that belong to nations, fans, and society as a whole. The club added that such events should not be treated as financial assets for the profit of a limited few.

The episode highlights growing tensions within global football governance, with calls for preserving the sport’s traditions and resisting moves toward greater commercialization of marquee international tournaments. Fifa’s initial plan aimed to attract private capital by selling stakes in a World Cup-related company, prompting concerns among stakeholders about the potential impact on the game’s broader community and heritage.