Football star supports World Cup boycott: "If it is required, it must happen"
Lucy Bronze has become the first English female footballer to publicly express support for the possibility of boycotting the World Cup as long as Gianni Infantino serves as FIFA president: "For the sake of the future of the game and all the children who will come after us."
The crisis between UEFA and FIFA continues to escalate, and now one of England's top female footballers has entered the fray. Lucy Bronze has become the first English player to publicly express support for the possibility of boycotting the World Cup if Gianni Infantino does not step down as FIFA president.
UEFA has already announced that it has lost confidence in Infantino. Initially, the European association demanded the cancellation of the plan and guarantees that similar attempts to "distort the game" would never be made again as a condition for lifting the boycott. However, according to reports, this is no longer sufficient, and the departure of the FIFA president is now viewed as a prerequisite for the return of European national teams.
The implications could be dramatic: national teams such as world champion Spain, England, France, and Germany may not participate in the World Cup in four years. Even before that, the 2027 Women's World Cup is scheduled to be held in Brazil, and there are now significant questions surrounding its viability.
"The message we are standing behind is 'for the good of the game'," said Bronze. "We, the European players who play in these competitions, stand behind our beliefs and what is right for our game. If that means boycotting competitions, then it must happen. It is for the future of the game, not just for me today or tomorrow. It is for all the girls and boys who will come after us, to make sure they will be in a good place and that the game will progress in the coming decades."
For Bronze, the 2027 World Cup could be the fourth of her career, but as of now, it is unclear if European national teams will indeed take part.
Meanwhile, Infantino continues to fight for his status. On Wednesday, FIFA announced that its president received support from members of the organization's council following emergency talks held in Morocco. According to reports, Infantino summoned officials to his hotel against the backdrop of heavy pressure. After the meeting, FIFA announced that the officials gave Infantino "full support," alongside an acknowledgment of the "mistakes" made within the framework of the cancelled plan. However, in Europe, it seems the storm is far from over.
