FIFA CLOSES RANKS ROUND INFANTINO AMID MOUNTING LEADERSHIP CRISIS

On Thursday, UEFA announced that it would maintain its boycott of the FIFA World Cup, a decision made after FIFA issued an apology the day before. The boycott follows the abandonment of a plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors, a proposal championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

According to France 24 – International breaki, the apology was issued to acknowledge "errors" in the plan that had been under consideration. UEFA reaffirmed its stance despite the apology, underscoring a growing effort to curb Infantino’s influence. The Guardian and ESPN echo that UEFA is standing by the boycott, while the International homepage reports that UEFA is doubling down on the boycott in an effort to oust Infantino.

The move signals a major governance crisis for world football, with Infantino’s future as president increasingly in question after the failed proposal to privatise World Cup stakes.

• UEFA maintains its boycott of the FIFA World Cup after the FIFA apology.
• FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the tournament was abandoned as a result of the boycott.
• The controversy has sparked calls for Infantino’s resignation, marking the biggest governance crisis in recent years.

Read the original source for full detail available at France 24 - International breaki src