FIFA in turmoil: English FA set to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino

The Football Association (FA), the governing body of football in England, is prepared to withdraw its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, according to a report by Sky Sports.

The FA intends to write to Infantino rescinding a previous letter supporting his re-election to FIFA, signalling a broad, coordinated effort by European football associations to remove him from the head of the global governing body as swiftly as possible.

Trouble has been mounting over Infantino's FIFA presidency following Tuesday's announcement regarding the establishment of the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The initiative aimed to consolidate the sale of FIFA's commercial rights—spanning broadcasting, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing—alongside the operational execution of its tournaments. Under the proposal, FIFA sought to generate up to $4.2 billion (£3.1 billion) from external investors by offering minority, non-controlling stakes in FFE.

The proposal sparked widespread concern and outrage across the football fraternity, particularly within UEFA, where officials felt the sport—and its marquee tournament, the FIFA World Cup—was being commercialised inappropriately.

On Thursday, UEFA, the administrative body for European football, announced that its member associations voted unanimously to boycott the FIFA World Cup and all other FIFA-organised competitions in protest against the plan to sell equity in a tournament-management subsidiary.

Following intense backlash from multiple sectors of world football, FIFA scrapped its plans to establish FFE. Nevertheless, Infantino continues to confront persistent criticism across the sport, with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) becoming the first national association globally to formally withdraw its endorsement of his re-election bid.

According to Sky Sports, numerous additional associations are expected to submit similar formal withdrawals in the coming hours and days, escalating pressure on Infantino. The FIFA chief has been relying on the momentum of an expanded, 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, which concluded with Spain defeating Argentina in the final.

Infantino has shown no inclination to resign and is actively working to consolidate his position by appealing to member associations across Africa, Asia, and South America, where he maintains substantial support. Even if he withstands the current push, he is expected to encounter a formal challenger during the next FIFA presidential election, scheduled for March in Morocco.

Earlier, the Football Association of Wales confirmed its stance to Sky News, stating, "it hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino, for re-election as FIFA president for the 2027-2031 term".

"The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football," the association added. "Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept," the statement concluded.

UEFA welcomed FIFA's decision to abandon the FFE project and shelve the sale of stakes in its competitions to private investors, while offering sharp criticism of Infantino and advocating for heightened transparency and accountability within the governing body.

UEFA also extended gratitude to supporters, leagues, clubs, players, national associations, confederations, heads of state, and prime ministers who voiced opposition to the plan, demonstrating to the FIFA leadership that the sport is not for sale.

"We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account," UEFA said in a statement.

"It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," the statement concluded.

ANI