UEFA stands by World Cup boycott plans despite FIFA, Gianni Infantino apology - ESPN

UEFA said its participating members could still boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, despite Gianni Infantino's apology for his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Following a meeting of senior FIFA leadership in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, the governing body acknowledged that «mistakes were made» over the proposal but «reaffirmed their full support» for Infantino's presidency.

UEFA's member nations had announced their decision to boycott all FIFA tournaments in the immediate aftermath of FIFA's World Cup privatization plans, and said Thursday they stand by their stance.

«UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions,» UEFA said in a 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 «First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.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. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds."

FIFA — and Infantino — tried to present a united front following the summit in Morocco when it announced the president had the full support of top staff in attendance.

The world governing body also apologized for errors made over its controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to «ensure they do not happen again.»

FIFA said it hoped its meeting would «help restore confidence» in the organization after the turbulence created by Infantino's now abandoned project, which provoked widespread condemnation.

UEFA voted to abandon FIFA competitions if it went