UEFA ready to drop FIFA boycott threat after assurances private World Cup sell-off plan won’t return

UEFA is reportedly ready to call off its threatened boycott of FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that Gianni Infantino's controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major tournaments to private investors will not be brought back.The decision would prevent the dispute from spilling into upcoming FIFA tournaments, but it does not appear to signal an end to UEFA's confrontation with Infantino, whose position has come under increasing pressure across European football.How the boycott came aboutThe row erupted after FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors became public.UEFA and all 55 of its member associations responded by taking an unusually hard line, agreeing to boycott FIFA tournaments in protest.In a joint statement earlier this month, UEFA said:“UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.”FIFA eventually withdrew the proposal in July, but UEFA wanted more than simply seeing the plan disappear. The European body also sought assurances that a similar attempt to sell stakes in the sport's biggest competitions would not be revived.That now appears to be the key reason the boycott is being reconsidered.UEFA ready to lift the threatAccording to Reuters, sources familiar with the discussions said Wednesday that UEFA is set to drop its boycott after receiving assurances that the investment plans will not return.UEFA officials are expected to tell FIFA's executive committee and the presidents of most of its member associations at a meeting in Monaco on Thursday that the conditions required to lift the boycott have been met.The first FIFA tournament that could have been caught up in the dispute was the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, which is due to take place next monthThat tournament now appears to be safe from the standoff. A FIFA spokesperson told Reuters:“FIFA is pleased that all qualified teams will be participating in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.”The spokesperson added:“FIFA strongly believes that football has the power to unite, even in challenging circumstances, and looks forward to welcoming all teams and players to Poland.”FIFA also said:“We remain committed to how we can further support the global development of the game, through our competitions, through the FIFA Forward programme and through our various other initiatives, and in full dialogue with the Confederations and stakeholders.”For UEFA, though, lifting the boycott is being framed as a practical decision rather than a retreatA source familiar with the discussions told Reuters:“It’s not a UEFA defeat, rather the reality of avoiding hurting young players’ once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The actions and insistence on change will continue.”That final sentence is perhaps the most revealing part of the development: UEFA may be stepping away from the boycott, but it does not intend to step away from its campaign for change.The pressure on Infantino hasn't gone awayInfantino's problems have now moved well beyond the original investment proposal.UEFA is among three continental confederations putting pressure on the FIFA president to resign, alongside the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF. The three regional bodies have also discussed the possibility of a vote of no confidence.Infantino is preparing to seek a fourth term in next year's FIFA presidential election and is increasingly facing the prospect of serious opposition.His position has also been weakened by the growing number of European federations withdrawing their support.Italy withdrew its backing for Infantino's re-election on Wednesday, becoming the latest federation to distance itself from him. England, Wales and Ireland had already withdrawn their support earlier this month, while Norway has called for him to step down.Romania also followed Italy on Wednesday, with the country's federation executive committee voting not to support Infantino for another term.Romanian federation president Răzvan Burleanu said:“FIFA needs today a new leader who can produce consensus and unity, inspire trust and who has the ability to bring us all together.”That leaves Infantino in a much less comfortable position than he appeared to be in before the World Cup investment controversy erupted.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.