UEFA poised to drop FIFA boycott threat after assurances as Italy pulls support for Infantino

UEFA is set to drop its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments after receiving assurances that plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major competitions will not be revived, sources aware of the discussions told Reuters on Wednesday, as Italy withdrew support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. European Leagues President Claudius Schaefer told The Athletic that the FIFA chief had no future at the organisation and that world soccer's governing body needed reform.

UEFA had sought both the withdrawal of the proposal and guarantees that similar plans would not be pursued again. FIFA withdrew the proposal in July, a move that followed widespread opposition. UEFA's 55 member associations agreed to boycott FIFA competitions after details of the plan emerged last month.

The potential boycott had been brought into sharper focus because teams are currently preparing for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, which is due to begin on September 5. "It's not a UEFA defeat, rather the reality of avoiding hurting young players' once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The actions and insistence on change will continue," a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

UEFA officials are expected to tell the governing body's executive committee and the presidents of most of its member associations at a meeting that the conditions for lifting the boycott have been met, the sources said. The assurances that the contested proposals would not be revived are cited by sources as the key factor behind UEFA's move.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) withdrew its support for Infantino's candidacy in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March next year. "This decision is intended to clearly and transparently express FIGC's position—in full agreement with UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin—regarding the recent initiatives promoted by the FIFA president concerning the governance and development of international competitions," FIGC said in a statement.

Pressure on Infantino has continued to mount, with three confederations pressing him to resign: UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF. Regional governing bodies have discussed a potential vote of no confidence, and Infantino is planning to seek re-election for a fourth term next year and is likely to face strong opposition, sources said.

Infantino retains support from the African and South American confederations and has sought to sideline the confederations and appeal directly to individual members, the sources added.

UEFA officials are due to brief the executive committee and the presidents of most member associations at a meeting in Monaco on Thursday, where they are expected to state that the conditions for lifting the boycott have been met.