Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has stated that female footballers should not face consequences due to a potential boycott of the upcoming Under-20 Women’s World Cup. While she believes Fifa president Gianni Infantino should step down following his proposal to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, she does not support a tournament boycott.
Uefa and its member nations have considered boycotting Fifa events to protest Infantino’s financial plans. However, host nation Poland reports that no teams have withdrawn, and associations from France and Portugal have confirmed their intent to participate. England’s team continues to prepare for the event under coach Lydia Bedford.
Nandy expressed that sporting boycotts often unfairly impact athletes who are not responsible for administrative disputes. She emphasized her desire for a leadership change at Fifa rather than punishing players, noting that women’s football is currently experiencing significant growth.
