Paauw warns trust with Infantino will crumble as UEFA boycott looms

Frank Paauw told Nieuwsuur on Thursday that it will become "very difficult" to keep confidence in Gianni Infantino as FIFA president, adding that the chance of a lasting trust basis is now "almost none". He made the comment while discussing the Dutch FA's stance on the ongoing dispute.

The Dutch FA and the other 54 UEFA member states have announced a boycott of FIFA tournaments, a move prompted by the controversial World Cup plans put forward by the global governing body. Paauw said the collective decision reflects a unified opposition to the proposal.

"First we want this plan off the table as UEFA and also as the KNVB," Paauw explained, "then we will see whether any trust basis remains." He followed that with the stark assessment that the answer is now "almost no".

Paauw also criticised the way FIFA communicated its World Cup plans, noting that the information was released through the media rather than the usual official channels. "That is also the point, that I have to hear something like this through the media," he said.

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Earlier that evening Paauw spoke to about UEFA's rigorous decision, describing European countries as standing "for the soul of football". He emphasized that the position was unanimous among the 55 UEFA members.

He argued that the FIFA proposal is flawed in process, governance and content, and must be removed from consideration. "As long as the proposal is not taken off the table, all 55 UEFA countries will not take part in FIFA competitions," he warned.

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Paauw warned that commercial interests risk outweighing sporting concerns, adding that the pressure on the calendar and on players would increase. He noted that the financial attractiveness of the plan mattered less than the fundamental values of the sport.

The meeting, showed both rich and small federations united in the view that money should not be placed above football's core interests. He concluded that the unanimous stance underscored the importance of preserving the sport's integrity.