UEFA set to lift threat of FIFA boycott as Italy withdraws support for Infantino

[p]Italy became the latest national ‌football federation to distance itself from Infantino, while European Leagues ‌President Claudius Schaefer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/gianni-infantino-has-no-future-at-fifa-insists-european-leagues-president/MepZuVy8/"]told [i]The Athletic[/i] that the FIFA chief had no future ‌at the organisation and that world football's governing body needed reform[/a].[/p][p]The ‌move follows FIFA's decision in July to withdraw a proposal that triggered opposition from UEFA's 55 member associations, which agreed to boycott FIFA competitions after details of the ‌plan emerged last month.[/p][p]UEFA's potential boycott has been ⁠brought into sharper focus with ‌teams currently preparing for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, which is due ​to begin on September 5th.[/p][p]UEFA officials are expected to tell the governing body's executive committee and the presidents of most ​of its member associations at a meeting in Monaco on Thursday that the conditions for lifting the boycott have been met, the sources said.[/p][p]UEFA ⁠has sought both the ​withdrawal of the proposal and assurances that similar plans would not be pursued again.[/p][p][b]"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,"[/b] a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.[/p][embed guid="6beafc0f-44b7-4f87-bdff-22af6bc88682" url="https://x.com/FIGC/status/2092594529761206680" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Italy withdraws support for Infantino[/h2][p]The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) withdrew its support for Infantino's candidacy in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March next year.[/p][p][b]"This decision is intended to clearly and transparently express the 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,"[/b] FIGC said in a statement.[/p][p]Pressure on Infantino has continued to mount.[/p][p]He is under pressure ‌from three confederations to resign, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation ​and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean.[/p][p]The ‌regional governing bodies have discussed a potential vote of no confidence in Infantino, who is planning to seek re-election for a fourth term next year and is likely to face strong opposition.[/p][p]Infantino, who retains support from the African and South American confederations, has sought ⁠to sideline the confederations and appeal ⁠directly to individual members.[/p]