Gianni Infantino in the Eye of the Storm, New Statement from UEFA: “Loss of Confidence”

Tensions between UEFA and FIFA remain extremely high, with the president of the international federation, Gianni Infantino, still at the center of the dispute. In fact, the statement released in the past few hours by FIFA has not changed the position of UEFA, led by Aleksander Ceferin, which continues to take a hard line and has no intention of backing down from a possible boycott of competitions organized by the world governing body.

According to the European federation, FIFA’s statement is not enough to mend the rift. Although FIFA acknowledged the mistakes related to the World Cup privatization plan, it confirmed its “full support” for Infantino—a move that has failed to convince UEFA to reconsider its position.

“FIFA’s statement changes nothing,” is the message reiterated by UEFA in a new press release. “UEFA member associations have been very clear regarding the conditions for not participating in FIFA competitions,” the statement reads. “First, the proposals to privatize the major competitions had to be withdrawn, and second, it had to be ensured that attempts to distort the game in this way would never happen again. These conditions have not been met.”

The European federation also emphasizes that its lack of confidence in FIFA’s current governance remains unchanged. “UEFA made it unequivocally clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position remains unchanged. Yesterday’s announcement—that certain individuals employed by the FIFA president (whose careers depend on his favor) agree with him—changes nothing.”

The institutional clash between the two top governing bodies of world soccer, therefore, is far from over. Further statements are expected in the coming hours, which could further fuel a rift destined to have repercussions on the future of international soccer governance.