UEFA maintains World Cup boycott threat as Gianni Infantino loses Europe’s support
European soccer's governing body has said its threat to boycott FIFA competitions remains, despite an apology over a failed plan to sell stakes in World Cup.
A boycott of the World Cup by European countries remains in place, UEFA has said, hours after FIFA indicated its under-fire president Gianni Infantino still had its “full support”.
FIFA also apologised on Wednesday for its failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, but on Thursday UEFA reiterated that it had lost confidence in Infantino and said conditions to withdraw its boycott threat had not been met.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non- participation in FIFA competitions,” it said in a statement. “First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”
It was another bruising day for Infantino, with global soccer players’ union FIFPRO accusing him of “a profound abuse of presidential power”.
The English Football Association has also withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election.
Even Amnesty International said the “current crisis spotlights the need for governance reforms”.
But in an indication of just how difficult it might prove to dislodge Infantino, in a statement on Thursday night the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee unanimously confirmed its support for the president. CAF comprises 54 members, one fewer than UEFA.
FIFA and Infantino tried to present a united front following the high-level summit in Rabat, Morocco.
FIFA said it hoped its meeting would “help restore confidence” in the organisation after the turbulence created by Infantino’s now abandoned project, which provoked widespread condemnation.
UEFA’s 55 members had voted unanimously to abandon FIFA competitions if it went ahead. And even after Infantino’s hasty climbdown, Europe’s governing body said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership ? paving the way for a challenge to his presidency.
However, UEFA made it clear its position still held. “Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing,” it said.
In a further twist on Thursday, FIFA dismissed a report that Infantino had promised Morocco the World Cup final in 2030, rather than co-hosts Spain, if the country supported his re-election in March next year.
FIFA said that Infantino had made no such promise and that a decision on the venue for the final would be made in due course.
