European football’s 55 member associations have voted to boycott all Fifa competitions unless president Gianni Infantino abandons plans to allow private investors to buy minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary running major tournaments. Former England defender Anita Asante and former FA women’s football director Baroness Sue Campbell warn that women’s competitions could be affected first, potentially disrupting international opportunities for players and qualification schedules.

The boycott’s first test is the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, due to begin on 5 September, although the Polish FA says it has received no withdrawal notices. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have Women’s World Cup qualifiers in October, while an Under-17 Women’s World Cup is planned in Morocco that month; Concacaf has rejected the proposal and the AFC has expressed solidarity with European and Concacaf counterparts. Fifa says it is not “selling football” and argues that reporting has disrupted consultation, while a senior adviser to Infantino resigned, calling the proposal harmful to football’s future.