Women’s football stands at a critical juncture as Fifa president Gianni Infantino proposes selling stakes in competitions to private investors, a move that Anita Asante, former England defender, warns could have dire consequences for the sport.

On Thursday, Uefa’s 55 member associations voted to boycott all Fifa competitions until these proposals are rescinded. The first test of this stance will occur when the Fifa Under-20 Women's World Cup kicks off on 5 September in Poland.

Asante emphasized the potential fallout, stating, "The first casualties will be women's football tournaments. I don't think Fifa have considered the implications of their decision."

Despite the looming boycott, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) confirmed that it has not yet received any notifications regarding team withdrawals, and preparations for the tournament are proceeding as planned.

Looking ahead, in October, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales will all compete in qualifiers for next summer's Women's World Cup in Brazil. Additionally, the Under-17 Women's World Cup is slated for October in Morocco.

Asante voiced her frustrations, stating, "You can't take for granted the opportunity to play in the World Cup. If this isn't resolved by the time of England's qualifiers, then the impact could be huge and it is already a busy schedule."

In response to Uefa’s boycott, Fifa asserted, "nobody is selling football" and claimed that the consultation process has been hindered by "incorrect media reports." Furthermore, the Concacaf governing body announced that its 41 member associations have rejected Fifa’s proposal, while the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed its solidarity with its European and North American counterparts.

Notably, Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned, describing the proposal as "a bad deal for football" and a threat to the sport's future. Asante concluded by praising Uefa’s clear directive, warning that the essence of football and its tournaments could be lost, with women once again becoming the victims of such decisions.