UEFA holds firm on FIFA boycott as Infantino survives board vote

Infantino secured "full support" from FIFA's management board after withdrawing plans to sell stakes in a company that would operate World Cup tournaments, following pushback from three continental confederations. Yet UEFA refused to lift its boycott threat, according to Sky Sports.

The Swiss administrator faced pressure over his proposal to privatise football's flagship competition. The plan collapsed before Wednesday's board meeting, but UEFA ruled the retreat insufficient.

"These conditions have not been met," UEFA stated on Thursday, reiterating twin demands: permanent withdrawal of the privatisation proposal and guarantees it would never resurface. The confederation also emphasised it had lost confidence in Infantino's leadership—a position it said remains unchanged.

UEFA dismissed Wednesday's board backing as meaningless, noting that those voting were employees whose "careers depend on his favour." The European body's defiant stance signals a fundamental rift over governance rather than relief at the policy U-turn alone.

The boycott threatens UEFA members' participation in FIFA tournaments, representing a serious escalation in football's power struggle between continental confederations and world governing body leadership.