European football's governing body UEFA announced it will boycott FIFA tournaments until plans by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in the World Cup are dropped.
Key facts
- UEFA announced the boycott on Thursday.
- The boycott targets FIFA tournaments.
- It is a response to plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
- The plans are attributed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
- UEFA says the boycott will continue until the plans are ended.
European football’s governing body, UEFA, has announced that it will boycott FIFA tournaments, according to Sky Sports. The move sets up a significant confrontation between the continent’s most powerful football confederation and the sport’s global governing body.
UEFA made the announcement on Thursday, Sky Sports reported. The organisation said it will maintain the boycott until plans from FIFA president Gianni Infantino to sell off stakes in the World Cup are ended.
At the heart of the dispute is Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup, football’s flagship tournament. UEFA’s position, as reported, is that the boycott will continue for as long as those plans remain on the table.
The confrontation raises questions about how the standoff might affect FIFA competitions and whether UEFA’s action has the leverage to force a change in direction at football’s world governing body.
Sky Sports framed its coverage as a question-and-answer piece examining why UEFA is taking this step, whether it can stop Infantino, and where other confederations stand on the issue.
As of the report, the immediate response from FIFA and the position of other confederations had not been detailed in the available information.
Why it matters
A boycott by UEFA, which oversees Europe's leading clubs and national teams, could disrupt FIFA's biggest tournaments and revenue streams. The clash over selling stakes in the World Cup touches on the commercial future and governance of the sport's most important competition.
Frequently asked questions
Why is UEFA boycotting FIFA tournaments?
According to Sky Sports, UEFA is boycotting FIFA tournaments in response to plans by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to sell off stakes in the World Cup.
When did UEFA announce the boycott?
UEFA announced the boycott on Thursday, according to Sky Sports.
What would end the boycott?
UEFA has said the boycott will continue until Infantino's plans to sell stakes in the World Cup are ended.