February 18 – UEFA has registered a logo and a trademark related to the Nations League in its ongoing feud with FIFA over new competitions that would reshape the football landscape.
In December Europe’s governing body registered trademarks for ‘Global Nations League’ and ‘World Nations League’ in the US, according to The Times. Earlier UEFA made similar registrations in the European Union.
UEFA devised the Nations League to rejuvenate international football in Europe and largely replace friendlies. The new competition kicked off in September 2018 and four finalists – England, Switzerland, Portugal and the Netherlands – will compete for the maiden crown this summer in Portugal. The tournament also offers an alternative gateway to Euro 2020 with four berths at stake.
Since UEFA launched their Nations League concept, so have the North and Central American and Caribbean confederation Concacaf, similarly rebranded and rejigged their national team competitions under a Nations League banner.
The blueprint (and the subsequent success) of the Nations League didn’t go unnoticed in Zurich and FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly mooted a copycat competition on a global scale as he seeks to open up new revenue avenues for FIFA throughout the four-year World Cup cycle with a revamp of the global international football calendar.
A Global Nations League would be part of Infantino’s controversial $25 billion sell off of two major FIFA competitions, including the Club World Cup, to Japanese multinational holding conglomerate Softbank which is backed by Saudi Arabian money. Infantino has incessantly beaten the drum for his plans, but faces fierce opposition from Europe, which has questioned Infantino’s intentions and lack of transparency.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1748224399labto1748224399ofdlr1748224399owedi1748224399sni@o1748224399fni1748224399