FOOTBALL – UEFA is set to drop its threat to boycott Fifa tournaments after receiving assurances that plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major competitions will not be revived, sources aware of the discussions told Reuters yesterday, as Italy withdrew support for Fifa President Gianni Infantino.
Italy became the latest national football federation to distance itself from Infantino, while European Leagues President Claudius Schaefer said that the Fifa chief had no future at the organisation and that world soccer’s governing body needed reform.
The move follows Fifa’s decision in July to withdraw a proposal that triggered opposition from Uefa’s 55 member associations, which agreed to boycott Fifa competitions after details of the plan emerged last month.
Uefas potential boycott has been brought into sharper focus with teams currently preparing for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, which is due to begin on September 5.
Uefa officials are expected to tell the governing body’s executive committee and the presidents of most of its member associations at a meeting in Monaco today that the conditions for lifting the boycott have been met, the sources said.
Uefa has sought both the withdrawal of the proposal and assurances that similar plans would not be pursued again.
“It’s not a Uefa defeat, rather the reality of avoiding hurting young players’ once in a lifetime opportunity. The actions and insistence on change will continue,” a source familiar with the discussions said.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) withdrew its support for Infantino’s candidacy in the Fifa presidential election scheduled for March next year.
“This decision is intended to clearly and transparently express the FIGC’s position – in full agreement with Uefa and its president Aleksander Ceferin – regarding the recent initiatives promoted by the Fifa president concerning the governance and development of international competitions,” FIGC said in a statement.
Infantino is under pressure from three confederations to resign, including Uefa the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf.