Uefa set to drop threat of boycotting Fifa competitions after assurances over World Cup stakes

Uefa is preparing to withdraw its threat to boycott Fifa tournaments after receiving assurances that Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup will not be repeated, and the issue is due to be discussed at a Uefa executive committee meeting in Monaco on Thursday.

Gianni Infantino has been president of Fifa since February 2016, and Uefa had previously said that although his plan was aborted following widespread condemnation, the conditions required to halt a boycott had "not been met." Uefa insisted: "Assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again." The governing body will consider those assurances at the Monaco meeting.

If the boycott threat is lifted, next month's Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland will go ahead as scheduled; six European teams are listed to take part, namely England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and hosts Poland.

A source close to the discussions said: "This isn't a climbdown," adding that Infantino's opponents "will continue until there are wholesale changes." The same source said: "It is not a Uefa defeat, rather the reality of avoiding hurting young players [over a] once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," and added: "The actions and insistence on change will continue and will win out in the end."

Last month European football's 55 member associations voted to boycott all Fifa competitions until the Fifa Forward Enterprises proposal was dropped "in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that Fifa will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership." Fifa has been approached for comment.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said this month she would not support a boycott of the U20 World Cup, stating: "I am not generally in favour of sporting boycotts full stop, because I think they divide people from one another. I think they unfairly penalise athletes and competitors who are not responsible for the reason that these boycotts take place," and added: "What I would like to see actually is football coming together, resolving this, a change of leadership, a change of direction and a very clear message that football belongs to its fans and it will not have women and girls penalised when the women's game is going from strength to strength. And our Lionesses are leading the world in that."

The Uefa executive committee's decision in Monaco on Thursday will determine whether the boycott threat is formally withdrawn and, consequently, whether the European sides scheduled can participate in the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland next month.