UEFA has said that its boycott of FIFA competitions still stands, despite the end of the controversial private investment plan that sparked the threat in the first place.
In the aftermath of FIFA releasing the proposal last week, UEFA held an emergency meeting and declared that none of its 55 member associations would participate in FIFA competitions — including the World Cup — until the plan was scrapped.
Additionally, UEFA demanded "binding assurances" that FIFA would "never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership."
It is the second part of UEFA's demands which it says has not been met, meaning its boycott is still in effect.
"UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA
competitions," European soccer's governing body said in a statement on Thursday, August 6.
"First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn, and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
"These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds.
"Yesterday's announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favor) agree with him changes nothing."
Infantino summoned top FIFA executives to a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday amid speculation over his future as FIFA president. After the meeting, FIFA released a statement indicating the executives, including secretary general Mattias Grafström, still were behind Infantino.
FIFA did apologize for the private investment plan, acknowledging that "mistakes were made."
UEFA's boycott could come into play as soon as September, when the U-20 Women's World Cup is scheduled to kick off in Poland, a member of UEFA.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UEFA says FIFA boycott still in place despite end of private investment plan
