Nandy draws line over women’s football as FIFA boycott pressure builds
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy has backed calls for Gianni Infantino to leave FIFA but warned that UEFA’s boycott threat must not penalise women’s players, as Poland continue preparations for next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
Poland are continuing preparations for next month’s FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup despite UEFA maintaining its threat to boycott FIFA competitions, placing the tournament at the centre of the governing bodies’ escalating dispute.The 24-team competition runs from September 5 to 27 and includes six UEFA nations, with hosts Poland joined by England, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: “We support the FA in saying that football belongs to its fans, enough is enough, and it is time for a change at FIFA.“I think [Infantino] should go, the time is up.”Nandy said she would not support a boycott of the women’s tournament, arguing that players should not carry the consequences of the governance dispute.She said: “I am not generally in favour of sporting boycotts full stop, because I think they divide people from one another, I think they unfairly penalise athletes and competitors who are not responsible for the reason that these boycotts take place.“What I would like to see actually is football coming together, resolving this, a change of leadership, a change of direction and a very clear message that football belongs to its fans and it will not have women and girls penalised when the women’s game is going from strength to strength.”The Polish Football Association said it had not received notice of any withdrawals and remains focused on delivering the tournament as planned.France have indicated they intend to participate, while Portugal have continued with their scheduled preparations. England have yet to confirm their final position, although their Under-20 squad are still preparing for the competition.The uncertainty follows UEFA’s decision, backed by all 55 member associations, to support non-participation in FIFA competitions after Infantino proposed selling a stake in a new vehicle controlling World Cup and other commercial assets to private investors.Infantino later withdrew the proposal, but UEFA have said the conditions required to reverse their position have not been met.The issue now carries wider strategic significance for FIFA and UEFA because any withdrawal from Poland would move the dispute from institutional rhetoric into direct disruption of an international competition.It would also raise questions over how any boycott would apply across women’s, youth and senior football, particularly with further FIFA women’s tournaments and qualification cycles approaching.Nandy’s intervention increases pressure on European associations to separate opposition to Infantino’s leadership from measures that would directly affect players, while Poland continue to prepare on the basis that the tournament will proceed as scheduled.