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UEFA says boycott of World Cups stands despite FIFA backdown on private investment

PARIS: European football's governing body UEFA said they would maintain their boycott of the men's and women's World Cups on Thursday (Aug 6) despite FIFA withdrawing the plan to open up their competitions to private investment.UEFA's initial threat issued last Thursday to boycott FIFA competitions is widely credited in being pivotal in the plan being shelved.Although that was one of their conditions to be met for them to withdraw their threat, they said on Thursday the second one had not been met. "UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non participation in FIFA competitions," read their statement."First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again."These conditions have not been met."

Kompany hopes new signings can push Bayern to Champions League glory

HONG KONG: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said on Thursday it would be “really tough” to improve on last season’s performances but was hopeful new signings could help power the German giants to a first Champions League title since 2020. The Bavarian side won a league and cup double last season but went out of Europe’s top competition in the semifinals to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. The thrilling 6-5 aggregate defeat extended the wait for continental glory at Germany’s wealthiest and most decorated club, where domestic success is often taken for granted. “Right now, I will say our goal is to win the Champions League,” Kompany told reporters in Hong Kong ahead of Friday’s friendly against Aston Villa. “During the season, I will tell you we have to focus on the next game, because you cannot win the Champions League in September, you cannot win it in October. “I think we have improved a little bit as well on the squad, with some of the transfers. “Hopefully this gives us a chance to achieve our goal. It’s tough to do better than last year, really tough, but it has to be our goal.” Bayern have made two major signings this summer, bringing in Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari from PSV Eindhoven and German defender Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt. Several of their World Cup stars, including French attacker Michael Olise and England captain Harry Kane, have not traveled with the squad to Asia.

Spain confident it will host the 2030 World Cup final because it ‘deserves’ it

MADRID: The Spanish government remained confident the final of the 2030 World Cup will be in Spain. Speaking after a report that FIFA allegedly awarded the final to co-host Morocco, sports minister Milagros Tolón said Spain “deserved” to host the title game. “We are the reigning men’s and women’s World Cup champions, and Spain and Portugal spearheaded the bid for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco later joined,” Tolón told Cadena Ser late Wednesday. “We have many advantages and strengths as a country.” Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the main 2030 co-hosts.

FIFA governance debate set to outlive Morocco truce despite backing for Infantino

Aug 6 : FIFA's bid to move past the biggest internal crisis of Gianni Infantino's reign is unlikely to end scrutiny of how world soccer is governed as questions linger on whether promised reforms will lead to meaningful change before the 2027 presidential election.

Infantino and FIFA present united front after crisis meeting over stake sale fallout

FIFA apologised to its members for mistakes made over its abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup as the body's leadership reaffirmed its support for President Gianni Infantino after a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday (Aug 5).

Gianni Infantino gets internal support at crisis meeting to remain as FIFA president

FIFA said Wednesday it had apologized for errors made over Gianni Infantino's failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and that senior staff in attendance at a crisis meeting in Morocco "reaffirmed their full support" for his presidency.

FIFA back Infantino, apologize for World Cup privatization plan

RABAT: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received the “full support” of senior directors on Wednesday but world football’s governing body apologized for the controversy of the now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Facing a barrage of criticism following the aborted plan, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged “errors,” while nonetheless backing under-fire Infantino following a crisis meeting in Morocco. Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within his organization, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down had grown since he abandoned it last Saturday. In a statement Wednesday, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged “that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media.” FIFA floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million. Instead of acting as a sweetener it produced a furious backlash, with European football’s governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport’s jewel in the crown, the World Cup. By Saturday, Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan. “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” said Infantino. After Wednesday’s meeting in Rabat, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance said in a statement they

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Morocco Sport News

UEFA says boycott of World Cups stands despite FIFA backdown on private investment

Kompany hopes new signings can push Bayern to Champions League glory

Spain confident it will host the 2030 World Cup final because it ‘deserves’ it

FIFA governance debate set to outlive Morocco truce despite backing for Infantino

Infantino and FIFA present united front after crisis meeting over stake sale fallout

Gianni Infantino gets internal support at crisis meeting to remain as FIFA president

FIFA back Infantino, apologize for World Cup privatization plan