FA turns up heat on Infantino by pulling support for embattled Fifa president
The Football Association has heaped further pressure on embattled Fifa president Gianni Infantino by formally withdrawing its support for his re-election.
The FA was one of around 200 of Fifa’s members which agreed to back his bid for a third term but has changed its mind in light of Infantino’s plan to sell off stakes in a new subsidiary that would own the commercial rights to the World Cup.
Its U-turn follows that of the Welsh FA, which withdrew its support early this morning, and is part of a co-ordinated effort from European stakeholders to force Infantino out.
European nations have led the revolt against Infantino’s plan to create a new entity, Fifa Forward Enterprise, and sell up to 20 per cent of it at a valuation of $20bn.
Uefa, Europe’s governing body and the most powerful of Fifa’s continental federations, last week threatened to boycott future World Cups unless Infantino scrapped his plan.
He eventually did after his senior advisor quit in protest and Fifa’s own chief operating officer disowned the controversial project and claimed he had not been told about it.
FA chair Hewitt on Fifa Council
Infantino faces a vote of no confidence if 43 of its 211 FAs or 19 of the 37 members of the Fifa Council support it. FA chair Debbie Hewitt is one of the vice-presidents of the Fifa Council.
The FA of Wales fired the starting gun with its statement. “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 2027–2031 term,” it said.
“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.”