UEFA repeats World Cup boycott threat over Infantino

UEFA repeated its threat to boycott FIFA competitions on Thursday, increasing pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his handling of a now-shelved private investment plan.

European football's governing body said its associations had set two conditions for non-participation: withdrawal of the plan and assurances that similar attempts would not be made again. UEFA said those conditions had not been met.

FIFA had floated a plan that it said could raise up to $4.2 billion, based on a $20 billion valuation for a new commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise. The proposed subsidiary would have run events including the World Cup and Club World Cup.

UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the plan last Saturday but said Thursday that it had lost confidence in Infantino's presidency. Several UEFA member associations have withdrawn support for his bid to be re-elected to a fourth and final term in Rabat next March.

CONMEBOL also criticised what it called repeated unilateral actions taken without dialogue or institutional mechanisms. The South American governing body said, however, that Infantino's future should be decided through a straight election contest if a challenger comes forward before nominations close on November 18.

Fifpro, the players' union, called the private investment plan “a profound abuse of presidential power.” North and Central American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation had previously criticised Infantino, while several African football officials have expressed support for him.