Uefa said Thursday it will maintain its threat to boycott Fifa-run competitions unless specific assurances are given and conditions are met, insisting it still has no confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. The declaration underscores deepening divisions at the top of world football and raises the prospect that a major tournament could be affected as early as next month.
Uefa stands firm after internal talks
In a stinging statement, Uefa — representing 55 member associations — said the public backing shown to Infantino by parts of Fifa’s leadership does not alter its position. The European body said proposals to commercialize or sell off major competitions had to be formally withdrawn and that guarantees were required that similar attempts would not be repeated. It said those prerequisites have not been satisfied.
“Uefa’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non-participation in Fifa competitions,”
Uefa’s announcement followed a turbulent week in which the Fifa president faced widespread criticism from several corners of the game. The global players’ union, Fifpro, accused Infantino of “a profound abuse of presidential power,” while Conmebol, the South American confederation that has frequently supported the Fifa president, criticised what it described as “repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue.”
What remains unresolved
Uefa said that although the privately funded Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme was scrapped last Friday, the organization still does not believe the underlying risks have been removed. It wants explicit assurances that proposals to alter or sell major competitions will not be attempted again, along with formal commitments to the governance reforms it deems necessary.
- Uefa’s 55 member associations agreed last week to a conditional boycott of Fifa competitions if their demands were not met.
- Fifa issued a public statement backing Infantino; Uefa said that backing changes nothing.
- Key stakeholders including Fifpro and Conmebol have publicly criticised Fifa leadership actions.
Immediate stakes: looming tournaments
The dispute has a near-term deadline. If the impasse is not resolved before the Under-20 Women’s World Cup — scheduled to begin in Poland on Sept. 5 — that tournament would be the first at risk of a Uefa-led boycott. Uefa said it hopes to exploit divisions within Fifa’s leadership despite a display of unity by some Fifa board members at a recent meeting in Rabat; it also noted notable absences at that gathering.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Uefa membership agrees conditional boycott | Last week |
| Ffe scheme formally scrapped | Last Friday |
| Under-20 Women’s World Cup begins (Poland) | Sept. 5 |
Uefa made clear that the mere fact some Fifa employees publicly supported the president — and whose careers might depend on his favour — does not change its assessment. The European confederation said the assurances it requires to prevent a boycott have not been provided and that its lack of confidence in Infantino’s presidency remains in place.
The fallout from the dispute extends beyond political rhetoric. If Uefa follows through on a boycott, the impact would be immediate and tangible: European national teams and clubs account for a large share of the talent and commercial value in major Fifa competitions. That reality has amplified the pressure on both sides to reach a negotiated solution.
For now, however, Uefa’s stance tightens the spotlight on football’s governing structures at a moment when several influential stakeholders have publicly challenged the direction of Fifa leadership. With an important youth women’s world tournament looming, the clock is now ticking for a resolution that would avert a public rupture between Fifa and European football.
