UEFA target Infantino for 'criminal mismanagement', suspend boycott threat
UEFA is considering legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for alleged criminal mismanagement regarding a failed private financing plan for the World Cup. While UEFA has provisionally suspended its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments, the legal dispute remains active.
Why it matters
This conflict highlights a significant power struggle within global football governance that could impact the stability and organization of major international tournaments.
Embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino was on Thursday potentially facing a legal suit brought by UEFA accusing him of "criminal mismanagement" over his now-shelved plan to bring private financing into the World Cup.
But, the 56-year-old Swiss chief of world football's governing body gained some respite when UEFA also announced later on Thursday that they were withdrawing, "on a provisional basis", their threat to boycott FIFA tournaments.
That will be music to the ears of Poland, who are hosting next month's women's Under-20 World Cup.
However, the nuclear option of a boycott -- widely seen as pivotal in forcing Infantino into his humiliating climbdown just days after launching the proposal last month -- remains.
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