Lucy Bronze has thrown her support behind Uefa's threat to boycott Fifa competitions, arguing the stance is necessary to protect football's future rather than serve short-term interests.
Uefa reaffirmed its warning on Thursday that it could pull its member federations, including England, out of Fifa-run tournaments, with next summer's Women's World Cup among the events potentially affected. The dispute stems from anger over Fifa president Gianni Infantino's handling of a now-abandoned proposal for a privately funded Fifa Forward Enterprise initiative.
Speaking ahead of England's pre-season friendly against Auckland FC at Eden Park on Saturday, the 34-year-old Chelsea and England right-back was asked by the New Zealand Herald whether missing out on Fifa events would be a source of frustration for players like herself.
"The message that we stand by … is 'for the good of the game'. The players who play in those competitions, the European players, we stand by our beliefs and what the right thing is for our game," Bronze said.
She went on to explain that the principle behind the potential boycott extends beyond her own career. "If that means boycotting competitions, then that has to happen. It's for the future of the game and not just for me today and tomorrow, it's for all the little girls or little boys who come after us to make sure that they're in a good place, when the game is moving forward in decades to come, not just tomorrow," she added.
For Bronze personally, the stakes are significant. Next summer's World Cup in Brazil could represent her fourth appearance at a senior tournament of that stature. England have reached at least the semi-final stage in each of her three previous World Cups, and her history with global competition dates back to New Zealand, where she was part of the England squad that advanced to the last four of the 2008 Under-17 Women's World Cup.
The broader implications of Uefa's stance could also be felt sooner than next summer. The Under-20 Women's World Cup, scheduled to begin in Poland within the coming weeks, may be affected by the standoff. England are set to compete in Group B of that tournament alongside Brazil, Canada and Tanzania, meaning any boycott could disrupt those plans before the senior tournament even comes into view.
In other developments within the women's game, Channel 4 announced it will broadcast the knockout rounds of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations live for the first time by a UK broadcaster. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will stream on the channel's YouTube platform, while the final will air live on E4.
Additionally, the Football Association named Sian Massey-Ellis as its new senior manager for women referees. Massey-Ellis, who became just the second woman added to the Premier League's list of officials back in 2010, has since built an extensive résumé that includes 150 top-flight matches and five Women's FA Cup finals. She also holds the distinction of being the first woman to officiate a men's FA Cup final.
As the row between Uefa and Fifa continues to unfold, players like Bronze appear resolute in backing their governing body's position, even at the risk of missing out on major tournaments themselves. The coming weeks, particularly with the Under-20 World Cup approaching, may offer an early indication of how the dispute will ultimately play out.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.