The Football Association of Wales and the English Football Association withdrew their support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election as FIFA president on Monday [1].
This shift in allegiance represents a significant blow to Infantino's standing among European football powers. The coordinated withdrawal suggests a growing lack of confidence in the current leadership's approach to the commercial governance of the global game.
Both associations issued formal letters to FIFA stating they no longer support the campaign for the 2027-2031 presidential term [2]. The move follows a widely criticized plan by Infantino to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial operations, including World Cup rights, to private investors [3].
“We cannot support a candidate who has jeopardised the integrity of the World Cup and the values of the game,” a spokesperson for the Football Association of Wales said [1].
Sir Mark Bullingham, the Chief Executive of the English FA, confirmed the decision to distance the organization from the bid. Bullingham said the English FA will write to Infantino to formally withdraw its support [2].
Infantino had previously attempted to mitigate the backlash from the proposal. On Sunday, Aug. 2, he said that he decided to shelve the proposal to sell the commercial operations to private investors [3]. Despite this reversal, the Welsh and English associations moved forward with their withdrawals on Aug. 3 [1].
While some reports differ on the exact timing of the English FA's notification, both bodies have signaled a clear break from the president's re-election strategy [1], [2]. This development marks the first time a nation has explicitly dropped its support for the current president during this cycle [1].
“"We cannot support a candidate who has jeopardised the integrity of the World Cup and the values of the game."”
The withdrawal of support from two prominent European associations indicates that Infantino's attempt to privatize World Cup commercial rights touched a nerve regarding the autonomy of national federations. While Infantino quickly shelved the plan, the political damage suggests that his path to a consensus re-election for the 2027-2031 term is no longer guaranteed, potentially opening the door for rival candidates.
