UEFA vice president: World Cup boycott threat was a success

UEFA vice president Laura McAllister believes that the federation’s threat to boycott the World Cup in response to FIFA’s botched investor plan has been a success.

“We won the battle and that was important because some European teams will soon be participating in the women’s under-20 World Cup (September 5-27). The boycott has worked so far,” she told broadcaster Sky News in an interview.

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been under fire for weeks after unveiling plans worth billions to sell World Cup rights to private investors last month. Following major protests, including UEFA’s threat of a World Cup boycott, he withdrew the proposal.

UEFA withdrew its threat, but is still discussing other protests against Infantino and possible legal action.

At their most recent meeting on the sidelines of the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday, the European federations “demonstrated unity and resilience” supporting change, McAllister said.

“We withdrew the boycott because all the conditions surrounding the withdrawal of the initiative had been guaranteed, and we received assurances that it would not be revived in any form,” McAllister said.

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She added, however, that Infantino’s controversial plan was just the tip of the iceberg.

“There has been a series of problems regarding the leadership of world football,” she said.

McAllister cited the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the country’s human rights issues, and the awarding of a FIFA Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump.

FIFA will host presidential elections next year in March and Infantino is the only declared candidate so far. Several federations, however, have withdrawn their support for the Swiss in the vote.