New Delhi: UEFA has maintained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions, saying its concerns over the leadership of FIFA president Gianni Infantino remain unresolved despite an apology from the global football governing body.
In a strongly worded statement, UEFA said its member associations had clearly outlined the conditions required to withdraw the threat of non participation in FIFA competitions. The European body said FIFA must permanently abandon proposals to sell stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup, and provide guarantees that similar plans would not be pursued again.
According to UEFA, neither condition has been satisfactorily addressed. The organisation also reiterated that it has lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership and said that position remains unchanged.
The dispute follows controversy over a proposal involving the sale of stakes in major FIFA competitions. FIFA later apologised to its council and member associations over what it described as errors surrounding the process and pledged to prevent similar situations in the future.
FIFA and Infantino attempted to demonstrate unity following a high level summit in Morocco, where the organisation announced that the FIFA president retained the full backing of those who attended.
UEFA, however, dismissed the development as insufficient to resolve its concerns. The European governing body questioned the significance of support from officials appointed within FIFA and argued that their backing for the president did not address the fundamental issues raised by European associations.
The standoff has created an unusual confrontation between football’s two most influential governing bodies. UEFA represents European national associations and oversees the continent’s major competitions, while FIFA governs international football and organises global tournaments including the World Cup.
UEFA’s latest statement means the possibility of a boycott remains on the table, increasing pressure on FIFA to address the concerns raised by European football authorities.
For now, the two sides remain divided, with UEFA insisting that its confidence in Infantino has not been restored and that FIFA must provide stronger guarantees before the boycott threat can be withdrawn.
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