England set to follow Wales in withdrawing support for Infantino's re-election
England’s Football Association is set to join Wales in withdrawing its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election, according to a Reuters report citing a source familiar with the matter. The move comes as the backlash over FIFA’s failed World Cup investment plan continues to intensify.
The decision follows FIFA’s move to abandon a proposal to sell a roughly 20% stake in a newly created commercial entity overseeing competitions, including the FIFA World Cup. The governing body had hoped to raise up to $4.2 billion from private investors but shelved the plan on Friday after strong opposition from key stakeholders.
The collapse of the proposal has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president from 2027 to 2031.
WALES WITHDRAWS SUPPORT
Wales became the first national association to formally withdraw its backing for Infantino on Monday.
“The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027 to 2031 term,” the Welsh FA said in a statement.
“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.
“Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”
PRESSURE GROWS ON INFANTINO
Infantino is facing some of the strongest criticism of his presidency after UEFA and CONCACAF said on Saturday that they had lost confidence in his leadership.
UEFA, which led the opposition to FIFA’s investment proposal and welcomed its withdrawal, stopped short of confirming reports that it was considering legal action against FIFA.
However, the European governing body said it had issued a document preservation order to prevent the destruction of emails, files and other records that could be relevant to any future investigation.
Infantino announced in April that he intended to seek a fourth term as FIFA president. Since succeeding Sepp Blatter in 2016, the Swiss official has twice been re-elected unopposed.
While his re-election had initially appeared to be a formality, the collapse of the World Cup investment proposal has exposed growing dissatisfaction within FIFA’s membership.
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