The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s re-election. This decision follows widespread controversy surrounding his attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors through a project known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
Although Infantino shelved the plan last Friday after it faced rejection from three confederations, the fallout has left his decade-long leadership of world football under significant scrutiny. In a statement released on Monday, the FAW expressed that recent failures regarding good governance, communication, stakeholder management, and sound judgment have led to a loss of confidence in the president. The association noted that failing to prioritize the best interests of football is an unacceptable leadership failure.
The English Football Association is also understood to have informed FIFA of its withdrawal of support. On Saturday, the English body affirmed its backing for UEFA’s position that confidence in Infantino had been lost due to the FFE proposal. UEFA has since formally written to Infantino, confirming that it is actively considering legal action and has instructed FIFA to preserve all documents and electronic information related to the FFE plan.
Meanwhile, the situation has sparked broader calls for accountability. Andy Burnham, who stated that Infantino is the "wrong man" to lead the organization, joined the English FA in calling for a full and robust review into his leadership. Concacaf, representing associations from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, has also demanded such a review. Reports suggest that Concacaf president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani may be prepared to contend for the top position.
While pressure mounts, the FIFA president retains support from several Asian and African associations, including those from Egypt, Morocco, and Qatar, which issued statements backing him over the weekend. While UEFA has hinted at the possibility of triggering a vote of no confidence to potentially lead to an Extraordinary FIFA Congress, experts note that such a move would require at least 43 associations and is considered unlikely without a clear path to securing a majority among FIFA’s 211 members.
