European football's governing body Uefa has reaffirmed its threat to boycott Fifa-organised competitions, insisting that world football's governing body has failed to meet the conditions required to avert such action, despite a public show of support for president Gianni Infantino this week.
The dispute stems from Infantino's now-abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme, which would have sold stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. Although the plan was scrapped last week following backlash, Uefa says that is not enough to resolve the crisis.
"Uefa's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non-participation in Fifa competitions," the organisation said in a statement. "First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and, secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again. These conditions have not been met."
Uefa also dismissed Fifa's backing of Infantino as insufficient, adding: "Yesterday's announcement that some people employed by the Fifa president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing."
The English Football Association has formally withdrawn its letter of support for Infantino's re-election bid, joining a small but growing number of federations distancing themselves from the Fifa president ahead of next March's vote.
Infantino travelled to Fifa's offices in Rabat, Morocco, this week to meet members of the organisation's management board, including secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, who had privately criticised the sell-off plan as a "sad and reproachable series of events" in an internal memo. Despite the tension, the two were later photographed together smiling at a Women's Africa Cup of Nations fixture, suggesting reconciliation.
Notably absent from the Rabat meeting was chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who had publicly criticised the scheme as "the project of one person" and said he was prepared to lose his job over his stance. Reports also indicate that Arsène Wenger, Fifa's chief of global development, declined to attend in order to keep his distance from Infantino, while chief football officer Jill Ellis and chief women's football officer Sarai Bareman were also absent.
Criticism has come from beyond Uefa as well. Global players' union Fifpro accused Fifa of a "profound abuse of presidential power," stating: "A plan capable of permanently altering the ownership and governance of the Fifa World Cup was conceived in secrecy, negotiated behind closed doors and brought to the brink of agreement." The union has demanded governance reforms, including voting rights for players on the Fifa Council.
South American confederation Conmebol, traditionally an Infantino ally, expressed concern over "repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue," though it stopped short of calling for his removal, saying it would not support any process that bypasses Fifa's established procedures.
Jordan remains one of the few federations to openly declare it will not back Infantino's re-election. Association president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein thanked Fifa for recently settling overdue bonus payments to Jordan's national team but maintained his opposition. "It does not change my clear position concerning the leadership of Fifa: my FA and I will not endorse president Infantino, nor will we vote for him," he said.
Uefa's resolve faces an imminent test with the Fifa Under-20 Women's World Cup starting in Poland on 5 September, an event that could become the first tournament affected by a European-led boycott. Sources suggest Uefa, alongside allies including European Football Clubs and Concacaf, may extend non-cooperation beyond boycotts to refusing engagement in key decisions needed to organise future competitions, potentially complicating Fifa's ability to govern effectively even if Infantino remains in office.
With the presidential election approaching in March, attention is turning to whether Uefa can identify a unity candidate to challenge Infantino, with Concacaf president Victor Montagliani seen as a likely contender. For now, both sides appear locked in a prolonged standoff, with officials describing the situation as a potential "war of attrition."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, The Guardian, and The Independent.