Wales has become the first UK home nation to publicly withdraw support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino's re-election, saying he has lost its confidence after a controversial plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
Key facts
- The Football Association of Wales withdrew its backing for Gianni Infantino's re-election bid.
- The FAW said the under-fire president has lost its confidence, calling it 'a failure we cannot accept'.
- The English FA is set to formally write to Fifa withdrawing its endorsement.
- Finland was the first nation to withdraw support last week, with Serbia also joining.
- Infantino shelved the World Cup investment plan after it was rejected by three confederations.
The Football Association of Wales has withdrawn its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid, becoming the first UK home nation to publicly do so, according to the BBC and the Guardian. The FAW said the under-fire president had lost its confidence, describing the situation as ‘a failure we cannot accept’.
The move stems from Infantino’s controversial effort to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors. According to the Guardian, the widely denounced plan was rejected by three confederations, and Infantino announced last week that he was shelving it. Despite that reversal, his decade-long reign at the head of Fifa remains under intense scrutiny.
The English Football Association is set to follow Wales, according to the Guardian and Sky Sports. In what the Guardian described as a significant development, the FA will formally write to Fifa confirming it no longer backs Infantino for a fourth term, having previously offered its endorsement.
The Guardian reported that the FA was the highest-profile of several Uefa member associations to drop its support for Infantino’s proposed re-election next year. More European countries are expected to follow suit in an attempt to force his resignation.
The Football Association of Finland became the first nation to withdraw its support last week, according to the Guardian. Wales and Serbia have since joined Finland in withdrawing their backing, as moves intensified across the globe to end Infantino’s tenure.
Sky Sports reported that Uefa is considering legal action, adding to the pressure surrounding Infantino’s crisis-hit leadership.
Why it matters
Infantino has led Fifa for a decade, and losing the backing of European associations threatens his bid for another term in charge of world football's governing body. The unraveling support signals a rare open revolt among national football bodies against a sitting Fifa president.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Wales withdraw its support for Infantino?
The Football Association of Wales said Infantino had lost its confidence following his bungled effort to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, calling it 'a failure we cannot accept'.
Which countries have withdrawn support for Infantino?
According to the Guardian, Finland was the first nation to withdraw support last week, with Wales and Serbia since joining. The English FA is also set to formally withdraw its endorsement.
What happened to the World Cup investment plan?
Infantino announced last week that he was shelving the plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors after it was rejected by three confederations, according to the Guardian.