English newspapers The Times, the Guardian and news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday that UEFA, football’s European governing body, was set to drop its threat to boycott all FIFA tournaments.
The decision to allow European teams to participate in next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland came after UEFA had reportedly received guarantees that football’s world governing body would not revive a plan to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments to private investors. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had dropped his plan to create a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) in the face of widespread protest last month.
UEFA spearheaded opposition to the plan but it had also demanded that “assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again,” something that until now, FIFA had declined to do. The reports suggest this demand has now been met.
The reports also said UEFA would use a meeting of its executive committee and most of the presidents of its 55 national associations in Monaco on Thursday to inform them that the U20 tournament could go ahead.
‘Not a UEFA defeat’
The Guardian reported that the FIFA and UEFA officials had been in private talks for weeks with the aim of preventing a boycott.
“It’s not a UEFA defeat, rather the reality of avoiding hurting young players during a once in a lifetime opportunity,” a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters. “The actions and insistence on change will continue.”
The Times reported that UEFA was working on other ways to try to step up the pressure on Infantino.
It cited a letter reading that “UEFA hereby gives formal notice that it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters.
“You and FIFA are required to take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or FIFA’s possession, custody, or control.”
‘Best possible conditions’ for the tournament
Prior to the latest reports, the Polish FA (PZPN) told DW in a statement that it was continuing with preparations to host the Under-20 Women’s World Cup as planned.
“Our priority remains to ensure the best possible conditions for the competition and for all participating teams,” the statement read.
“For many of these young players, this tournament represents an important milestone in their sporting careers, and we remain fully focused on delivering an event worthy of their talent and commitment.”
The tournament kicks off with the opening match between Poland and Argentina in Katowice on September 5.
Gianni Infantino is expected to stand for re-election at a FIFA Congress next March and so far no other candidate has come forward to challenge him. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has already said he will not run.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding
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