Uefa ‘likely’ to drop threat to boycott Fifa tournaments

Uefa is likely to abandon its threat to boycott Fifa tournaments following the fulfillment of two conditions it had previously set for the world football governing body. Infantino, the president of Fifa, had introduced a plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup, which Uefa vehemently opposed, describing it as a "shady, opaque backroom deal."

Despite Infantino withdrawing the proposal, Uefa had maintained its threat until the second condition was met. The source confirmed to AFP that Uefa's national associations meeting in Monaco on Thursday had satisfied the second criterion, leading to the likelihood of dropping the boycott threat. The Under-20 Women's World Cup, currently taking place in Poland, was identified as a crucial factor in this decision, as it could potentially undermine Uefa's united front against Infantino.

Infantino, seeking a fourth term at Fifa's presidential election in March, has been under increasing pressure to step down due to the aborted plan to secure private investment in Fifa tournaments. Italy was among the member associations that withdrew their support for Infantino. Ceferin, Uefa's president, has announced he will not stand for re-election, and Victor Montagliani from Concacaf is seen as the most probable challenger.

With just 10 days left until the start of the Under-20 Women's World Cup, concerns have been raised about the potential for a split within Uefa's anti-Infantino bloc. While some sources question the effectiveness of the initial boycott threats, the imminent tournament in Poland and the participation of major European nations like France, England, and Spain suggest that Uefa may ultimately decide to end its boycott threat.