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UEFA is reportedly likely to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments after receiving the assurances it demanded from world football\u2019s governing body, providing embattled president Gianni Infantino with some relief as a group of football legends publicly rallies behind him.<\/p>\n
The boycott threat emerged following Infantino\u2019s controversial and ultimately abandoned attempt to open FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investment.<\/p>\n
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n UEFA, led by president Aleksander Ceferin, had branded the proposal a \u201cshady, opaque backroom deal\u201d and maintained its boycott threat even after Infantino scrapped the plan just days after its launch.<\/p>\n European football\u2019s governing body wanted further assurances \u201cthat such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again\u201d.<\/p>\n Those assurances now appear to have arrived.<\/p>\n \u201cYes it is likely,\u201d a source told AFP when asked whether UEFA would withdraw its boycott threat.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the reassurance we sought has been received so it fulfils the second of the two criteria we set.\u201d<\/p>\n The looming Under-20 Women\u2019s World Cup in Poland has also complicated UEFA\u2019s position, with the tournament beginning on September 5 and major European nations including France, England and Spain expected to participate.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is complicated to maintain a unanimous position among the 55 [UEFA members] in these circumstances,\u201d another source said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, there is a real risk of splitting the anti-Infantino bloc.\u201d<\/p>\n The removal of the threat would not signal the end of opposition to Infantino, who continues to face calls to step down and is seeking a fourth and final term as FIFA president next March.<\/p>\n Several member associations have withdrawn their support following the private investment scandal, with Italy becoming the latest on Wednesday.<\/p>\n But amid the growing pressure, some of football\u2019s biggest former stars have now publicly rallied behind Infantino.<\/p>\n World Cup winners Fabio Cannavaro and Cafu are among a group of former players to throw their support behind the FIFA president.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n ANGE WATCH: Ronaldo fumes, snubs celebrations over shock call as Ange pulls off epic comeback<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n