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UEFA has reinforced its threat to withdraw from all FIFA competitions following the governing body's public declaration of support for president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino continues to find himself at the center of controversy after his scheme to sell shares of future World Cups to private investors became public knowledge. The widespread backlash that ensued compelled the 56-year-old to scrap his plans, yet he remains under scrutiny even after FIFA issued a public statement endorsing his leadership.
The 55 member associations of UEFA stand firmly united against world football's governing body. UEFA issued a fresh statement on Thursday reaffirming its boycott and criticizing FIFA for unconditionally backing Infantino, who emerged from Wednesday's emergency meeting with his position intact.
UEFA Has 'Lost Confidence' in Infantino, FIFA
"UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non participation in FIFA competitions," UEFA 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 "First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
"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.
"Yesterday's announcement that some people employed by the FIFA President (and whose careers depend on his favor) agree with him changes nothing."
Indeed, FIFA offered no guarantees in its most recent attention-grabbing statement. Instead, it declared its "full support" for Infantino and stated it will "no longer tolerate any attacks on [FIFA's] integrity," vowing to take "all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation."
It also disclosed that Infantino had apologized for concealing his original plan to commercialize the World Cup from several FIFA members, who only discovered it through leaked information.
FIFPRO Release Impactful Statement
FIFA's attempt at damage control in defense of Infantino is failing to produce the intended results. Following UEFA's statement, FIFPRO, the global players' union, issued one of its own, demanding "governance reforms" in response to what it described as an "abuse of power."
"The withdrawal of FFE was inevitable. But withdrawing the proposal does not erase what it revealed," the statement reads.
"A plan capable of permanently altering the ownership and governance of the FIFA World Cup, and commercializing the competitions built by generations of players, was conceived in secrecy, negotiated behind closed doors and brought to the brink of agreement before the FIFA Council, the Member Associations, players and football's recognized stakeholders even knew it existed.
"That is not merely a governance failure. It is a profound abuse of presidential power."
FIFPRO went on to list the following demands, per its statement:
What Happens Next For UEFA?
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Based on its two most recent statements, Europe's governing body appears set to hold firm in its decision to boycott all upcoming FIFA international tournaments. A reversal seems unlikely unless FIFA meets the conditions UEFA has outlined.
Should FIFA decline to comply, UEFA's resolve will face its first real test at the Women's U-20 World Cup, scheduled to begin in September. That tournament marks the earliest opportunity for UEFA to act on its boycott, ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier play-offs commencing in October.
These approaching events effectively give FIFA a one-month window to restore its standing with UEFA, or risk yet another public embarrassment that would ultimately hurt the players who simply want to compete.