UEFA could be forced to carry out their threat of boycotting FIFA tournaments in less than a month after Gianni Infantino refused to give in to the mounting pressure on him to resign.
Infantino Solidifies Position
Rather than fall on his sword, Infantino has made moves to solidify his position as FIFA president. Following seven hours of crisis talks in Morocco on Wednesday, FIFA released a statement saying Infantino had their "full support" after his botched attempt to invite private investment into tournaments.
FIFA have opted to close ranks and go on the offensive, saying they will "no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation".
UEFA and FA Respond
The battle lines have been drawn, with UEFA leading the backlash against Infantino. The Football Association has followed in Wales' footsteps by formally withdrawing their support of the Swiss, but with the pressure yet to tell, UEFA and their allies may have to follow through with their threat.
In a statement on Thursday, UEFA said FIFA's words following their meeting "changes nothing" and that their threat of a boycott stands. It means FIFA have been put on notice ahead of their next international tournament, the Under-20 Women's World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted in Poland, beginning on September 5.
Tournaments at Risk
After that comes the Under-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco in October and the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar in November and December. Next summer comes a much bigger fish: the Women's World Cup in Brazil. If it came to it, boycotting that would send a strong message - and it is a sacrifice England star Lucy Bronze is willing to make.
“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 ahead of a Chelsea pre-season friendly in New Zealand.
“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.”
UEFA's Conditions
With Infantino not willing to resign, UEFA may have to back a rival candidate in the upcoming FIFA presidential election. Infantino has been in charge for 10 years and was set to stand unopposed for a fourth term next year, but the events of the past week have changed everything.
A UEFA statement shared on Thursday afternoon read: "UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions.
"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 (Wednesday) announcement that some people employed by the FIFA President (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing."
