UEFA Upholds World Cup Boycott Threat Despite Infantino's Apology

European football's governing body, UEFA, has reaffirmed its threat to boycott FIFA-run competitions, stating that FIFA's recent public backing of president Gianni Infantino "changes nothing." The escalation follows a crisis that has unfolded over the past nine days, during which UEFA's 55 member associations unanimously agreed to consider a boycott unless Infantino withdrew a privately-funded initiative known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Although that scheme was scrapped last Friday, UEFA insists the broader conditions required to prevent a boycott have not yet been met, citing a lack of certainty that similar conflicts will not arise again. The dispute has drawn sharp criticism from global players' union Fifpro, which condemned what it described as a "profound abuse of presidential power." UEFA's latest statement signals a deepening loss of confidence in Infantino's leadership, setting the stage for a potential major rift within international football's governance structure.