UEFA drops FIFA boycott threat but launches criminal case against Infantino
European football's governing body has withdrawn its boycott threat but is pursuing criminal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his abandoned World Cup sell-off plan.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
European football's governing body UEFA has withdrawn its threat to boycott FIFA competitions, but has escalated its campaign against FIFA president Gianni Infantino by preparing criminal proceedings against him over his abandoned plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup.
The move comes after weeks of turmoil that began when Infantino proposed selling a 20% stake in FIFA's competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan, valued at $20 billion, was met with outrage from European, Asian and North American football confederations, who accused Infantino of acting without consultation and of attempting to privatise the sport.
UEFA had threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions unless Infantino abandoned the plan and gave assurances it would never be repeated. After Infantino scrapped the proposal and apologised, UEFA has now decided to lift the boycott, clearing the way for England's under-20 women's team to compete in the upcoming World Cup in Poland.
However, UEFA has not ended its fight. In a significant escalation, it has filed documents in the United States seeking access to evidence for use in legal proceedings in Switzerland, where it plans to bring criminal claims against Infantino for criminal mismanagement. UEFA's lawyers allege that the plan was a 'fraudulently off-market price promoted by Infantino for his own benefit' and that it was structured in secret without proper oversight.
The legal action adds to the pressure on Infantino, who has been defiant. He was tracked down by Sky News in the Dominican Republic, where he refused to answer questions and instead made jokes about hairdressers. He has also been asked not to attend a youth tournament by CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, who is seen as a potential successor.
Infantino continues to claim he has support, and received qualified backing from the Saudi Arabian federation. But UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out as a candidate to replace Infantino, while insisting that a challenger will emerge for the March election.
The dropping of the boycott threat may be seen as a climbdown by UEFA, but the criminal proceedings signal that the battle for control of world football is far from over.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA still opposes Infantino's leadership and may pursue legal action. | ||||
| UEFA alleges the sale price was fraudulently off-market and promoted for Infantino's own benefit. | · | |||
| UEFA is set to lift its boycott of FIFA competitions. | · | |||
| UEFA subpoenaed FIFA in the US to obtain evidence. | · | |||
| FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association approximately £235,000 for the Falklands banner and other conduct violations. | · | · | ||
| UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin ruled himself out as a candidate to replace Infantino, citing his love for UEFA and higher credibility. | · | · | ||
| Carlos Cordero quit as senior advisor to Infantino, saying it was a bad deal for football. | · | · | · | |
| Ceferin predicted Infantino will step down or face a challenger at the March election. | · | · | · | |
| Ceferin said the FIFA plan to sell competitions is worse than the Super League plan. | · | · | · | |
| Ceferin stated that 75% of FIFA's revenue comes from Europe. | · | · | · | |
| England's under-20 women's team will be able to play in the World Cup in Poland. | · | · | · | |
| FIFA officials could face prison sentences if found guilty of financial mismanagement. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV focused on the legal escalation, highlighting the potential prison sentence and the seriousness of the criminal proceedings. They also covered Ceferin's comments about Infantino's lack of support, and the implications for FIFA's reputation.
- “UEFA boss Alexander Ceferin's lawyers have served papers in the United States, demanding that FIFA provides all the evidence it holds around its secret World Cup sell-off plan.”
- “If they bring the case and FIFA officials are found guilty of financial mismanagement, the consequences could be seismic.”
- “One option is that he realises that he doesn't have the support and that's not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans.”
Sky News took an investigative and confrontational approach, tracking down Infantino and pressing him on his future. They highlighted the growing opposition from confederations, the legal action, and maintained a critical tone towards Infantino, describing him as a joke and an embarrassment.
- “Have you betrayed the game of football? Why won't you resign?”
- “See you at the hairdresser, he said. He likes a baldy gag.”
- “He's a bit of a joke really, isn't he?”
BBC News focused on the significance of the legal action as a major escalation in world football's civil war, and on Ceferin's decision not to stand. They also noted the dropping of the boycott and the potential consequences for Infantino.
- “I think this is another major escalation in world football's civil war.”
- “UEFA's considering bringing criminal proceedings against him, the pressure has ramped up again.”
- “UEFA claims his plan to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup for three billion pounds was an absurdly low figure, as they put it.”
BBC ONE West highlighted the relief for England's under-20 women's team and the practical impact of the boycott being lifted, while also covering the legal action. They noted that UEFA privately accepts Infantino is likely to stay in power.
- “I think this will come as a major relief to the six European teams, including England, that are due to take part in that Women's under-20 World Cup”
- “UEFA had talked tough over this, threatening a boycott of FIFA competitions, even after Infantino's controversial proposal had been abandoned and he'd apologised for it.”
- “Privately, UEFA accept now that the chances of forcing Infantino out with a vote of no confidence are unlikely.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.