UEFA says Infantino faces continued opposition after FIFA commercial plan row

UEFA says it will continue to boycott FIFA competitions while Gianni Infantino remains president of world football’s governing body, despite the FIFA leader abandoning his original proposal to privatise part of the World Cup.

The European governing body has made clear that the decision is not limited to the World Cup. In a statement, UEFA said its affiliated associations would refuse to take part in FIFA tournaments for as long as Infantino remains in charge.

UEFA first announced its boycott soon after Infantino revealed his commercial plans. The proposals triggered an international backlash and raised further questions about the FIFA president’s position, although Infantino remains convinced he can continue his leadership of the organisation.

UEFA’s view is very different. The organisation has reiterated that it no longer has confidence in Infantino’s presidency and said its position has not changed, even after he dropped the initial plan to privatise part of the World Cup.

“UEFA-affiliated associations have been very clear about the conditions attached to non-participation in FIFA competitions,” the statement said.

“Firstly, the proposals to privatise major competitions had to be withdrawn, and secondly, it had to be ensured that such attempts to disrupt football would never happen again. These conditions have not been met.”

The statement, issued on Saturday, set out the two requirements UEFA believes must be satisfied before its boycott can be reconsidered. The first was the removal of proposals concerning the private control of major competitions. The second was a guarantee that similar efforts to interfere with football would not be repeated.

According to UEFA, neither condition has been fulfilled. Its announcement therefore maintains the pressure on Infantino and confirms that the dispute is about more than the details of his original commercial proposal.

The European body had moved quickly in response to Infantino’s plans, with the announcement leading to widespread international criticism of his position as FIFA president. Despite that reaction, the Swiss remains confident about his future at the head of the world governing body.

UEFA, however, has now made its own position explicit. It says the issue is also one of trust in Infantino’s leadership, and that confidence has not been restored. As a result, its affiliated associations will continue to boycott FIFA competitions while he remains president.

The stance means UEFA’s opposition remains in place even though the specific proposal that prompted the initial dispute has been abandoned. For the European governing body, withdrawing the plan alone is not enough: it also wants assurances that no similar attempt to disrupt the structure of football’s major competitions will happen again.

Its Saturday statement therefore leaves the boycott policy unchanged and confirms that UEFA’s lack of confidence in Infantino continues.