Wales and England withdraw support for Gianni Infantino amid calls for new Fifa leadership
Pressure Mounts on Infantino
Gianni Infantino‘s position as Fifa president is facing increased scrutiny, with Wales and England withdrawing their support for his re-election. This development follows his decision to scrap a plan to sell stakes of the World Cup to private investors. Uefa, alongside numerous other football bodies, has stated a loss of confidence in Infantino after its 55 member associations indicated they would not participate in any Fifa tournament until the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plans were withdrawn. This collective stance ultimately led to Infantino’s reversal of the plan.
The Football Association (FA) is set to formally withdraw its backing for Infantino’s re-election, adding to the growing pressure on his leadership. This move by the FA follows a similar decision by the Welsh FA. The Football Association of Finland was reportedly the first nation to withdraw its support. Prior to last week’s revelation of his privately-backed plan, all but five of Uefa’s member associations had communicated their support for Infantino.
Concacaf, the governing body for North America and the Caribbean, also expressed concerns regarding a lack of consultation and rejected the proposal. Similarly, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) called for an “urgent review of its governance” within Fifa, further intensifying the pressure on Infantino. These actions indicate a shift in support from what were once considered loyal strongholds, less than a year before the next Fifa presidential election in March 2027.
Potential Challengers Emerge
As the calls for new leadership grow, several individuals are being considered as potential candidates to challenge Infantino for the Fifa presidency.
Aleksander Ceferin, the president of Uefa, is seen by some as a qualified candidate. He has been in his current role since 2016 and had initially ruled out seeking a third term. However, he is now reportedly willing to seek re-election if no other candidates come forward. Ceferin and Infantino have been rivals, with Ceferin notably not attending the World Cup 2026 final after the tournament faced controversy, including the suspension of a red card ban following a review request.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain and chairman of Qatar Sports Investment, is another name being discussed. He holds several senior positions within football, including a key role in European Football Clubs, which voiced “serious concern” about Infantino’s sell-off plan. Reports suggest that multiple Uefa federations, including Belgium and Poland, might support Al-Khelaifi, viewing him as a strong contender. However, a representative for Al-Khelaifi stated that he has no ambition or interest in the Fifa role.
Dariusz Mioduski, owner of Legia Warsaw, is also being considered by Uefa members. Senior federation officials in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Spain have reportedly mooted the Polish lawyer. Despite this, he may not be the preferred candidate in his home country, with Poland’s FA reportedly favoring Al-Khelaifi.
Outside of Uefa, Victor Montagliani, president of Concacaf, is rumored as a potential successor. His aspirations to become Fifa president are reportedly well known. Montagliani was unanimously re-elected to lead Concacaf in 2023, with his current term ending in 2027. Reports suggest he is “making moves” to expedite his ambitions and challenge Infantino in the upcoming election. Concacaf, under Montagliani, rejected Fifa’s proposal, aligning with Uefa’s stance.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the AFC and senior vice-president of the Fifa Council, has also openly opposed Infantino’s plans. He described Fifa’s lack of consultation with its members as “totally unacceptable” in a letter to the AFC’s 47 member federations. His term as AFC president is set to conclude in 2027.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, currently Fifa’s Chief of Global Football Development, is considered a long-shot candidate. Wenger has become increasingly involved in the political aspects of football and has previously advocated for radical changes, such as the “daylight offside rule” which was trialed in Canada earlier this year.
Rebuilding Trust in Fifa
Uefa has welcomed Fifa’s decision to withdraw its plan to sell a stake in its competitions, including the World Cup. The proposal was unanimously rejected by Uefa’s national associations and many other federations and confederations globally, who aim to protect football. Uefa expressed gratitude to fans, leagues, clubs, players, individuals, associations, and confederations that opposed the scheme, as well as various heads of state and commentators who demonstrated that “football is not for sale.”
Uefa stated that the current Fifa leadership has lost its confidence, along with that of many other members of the football community. The organization plans to work with its associations and other confederations to review how the situation developed and to create a plan to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This review is expected to be thorough, with all options considered.
When Gianni Infantino was elected president in 2016, he emphasized transparency and stated that Fifa’s money belonged to the national associations, intended for the development of football. Uefa contends that Infantino has failed on both these promises, citing the lack of transparency in the recent proposal and the substantial reserves of over $5bn that have not been adequately used for the benefit of the game. Uefa will begin working with partners globally to propose a new method for distributing resources through the existing Fifa Forward program.
Source: independent.co.uk