Lisa Nandy: Women’s football must not be sacrificed in UEFA boycott

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has stated that women footballers should not be 'punished' due to a potential boycott of FIFA tournaments by UEFA and its member nations. The Women's Under-20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Poland from 5 to 27 September, with England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France among the European teams set to compete. Speaking to the BBC, Nandy supported the Football Association's stance on the need for change at FIFA, asserting that Gianni Infantino should step down. The dispute centres on the 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' plan, which proposes selling shares in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors. Nandy stated, 'I think he should go; his time is up.' However, the Culture Secretary clarified that she does not support a boycott of the Under-20 tournament, arguing that such measures unfairly target athletes who are not responsible for the underlying issues. She noted that she generally opposes sporting boycotts as they divide people and penalise competitors. Nandy called for a resolution to the dispute and a change in FIFA's leadership and direction, emphasising that football belongs to the fans and that the growth of the women's game must not be hindered. The Polish Football Association confirmed to BBC Sport on Tuesday that it has received no information regarding the withdrawal of any participating teams and expressed hope for a swift resolution. France confirmed last week that it will participate, and the Portuguese Football Federation stated its Under-20 team is proceeding as planned, including a friendly against England this week. While the English FA has not yet formally confirmed its team's participation, the squad under head coach Lydia Bedford continues its preparations. UEFA and its 55 member associations have threatened to boycott FIFA competitions in protest against Infantino's privatisation plans. Nandy concluded that football needs a change in leadership to send a clear message about the importance of fans and the support of women's football, a sport in which she noted the 'Lionesses' are world leaders.