NYON: UEFA has blinked in its standoff with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The European federation has dropped its threat to ​boycott FIFA tournaments – this season at least – after receiving assurances that plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major competitions will not be ‌revived.

​FIFA’s decision in July triggered opposition from UEFA’s 55 member associations, which agreed to boycott FIFA competitions after details ​of the plan emerged last month. Now UEFA has decided that the threat stands but not as far as FIFA’s age-group events this season are concerned.

Next month’s Under-20 Women’s ⁠World Cup in Poland is the first major tournament from which a cloud has been lifted.

A FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA is pleased that all qualified teams will be ​participating in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. FIFA strongly believes that football has the power to unite, even in challenging circumstances, ​and looks forward to welcoming all teams and players to Poland.

“We remain committed to how we can further support the global development of the game, through our competitions, through the FIFA Forward programme and through our various other initiatives, and in full dialogue with the Confederations and stakeholders.”

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferun the European governing body’s executive committee ​and the presidents of most of its member associations in Monaco that the conditions for lifting the boycott had ​been met. UEFA has sought both the withdrawal of the proposal and assurances that similar plans would not be pursued again.

A statement said:

“FIFA has now confirmed in writing to UEFA that the FIFA Forward Enterprise project has been ‘irrevocably and permanently withdrawn’ and that it ‘will not re-appear in any other shape, construction, name or form.’

“Having now secured the two assurances it required from FIFA on 30 July, and following consultation with its National Associations, UEFA has therefore agreed to suspend, on a provisional basis, the withdrawal by European teams from FIFA competitions in the coming season, including the Women’s U20 World Cup, U17 World Cup and the Women’s U17 World Cup.  This position will remain under constant review and may be reconsidered immediately if circumstances so require.”

Separately UEFA is pursuing criminal legal proceedings against Infantino and associates in both Switzerland and the United States.

Italy has become the latest national federation to withdraw its support for Infantino’s candidacy in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March next year.

“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,” FIGC ​said in a statement.

Pressure on Infantino ⁠has continued to mount, with Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, saying that the federation will determine its stance at its executive committee meeting next month.

“I believe we achieved a victory, since FIFA’s project was withdrawn,” ​Diallo told L’Equipe on Wednesday.

“There is now the political question, on which several federations and the UEFA president, ​whom I have spoken ⁠to on several occasions, have expressed their views.

“I wanted the FFF’s official position to be determined at its next executive committee meeting, on September 10.”

Infantino is also under pressure from three confederations to resign, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean.

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.

Infantino, who retains support from the African and South American confederations, has sought to sideline the confederations and appeal directly to ​individual members.

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