UEFA has said its participating members could still boycott FIFA competitions including the World Cup despite Gianni Infantino’s apology statement.
On Wednesday, FIFA apologised for its plans to sell off stakes of the World Cup, acknowleding that “mistakes were made.” Following a meeting in Rabat, Morocco of senior FIFA leadership, the governing body said it had “reaffirmed their full support” for Infantino’s presidency.
UEFA’s member nations had announced their decision to boycott all FIFA tournaments in the immediate aftermath of FIFA’s World Cup privatisation plans, and said they stand by their stance.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions,” they said in a statement on Thursday to ESPN.
“First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.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. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.
“Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA President (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing.”
