Wales withdraws support for Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA President
Infantino, who is up for re-election in March next year, now faces mounting pressure
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially withdrawn its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election, becoming the first national governing body to do so.
This move comes days after Infantino reversed controversial plans to “sell off” major football tournaments like the World Cup, which would have seen a private company created to run FIFA’s flagship events and open them to outside investment.
The proposed company, reportedly set to be led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, faced widespread criticism.
UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions until the plans were scrapped, while CONCACAF also condemned the move. Several of Infantino’s key advisers resigned in protest.
Infantino, who is up for re-election in March, now faces mounting pressure as the FAW cited failures in governance, leadership, communication, and judgement for withdrawing support.
In a statement to Sky News, the FAW said Infantino “has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football,” adding, “Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”
Other British football associations have not yet followed the FAW’s lead, though they approved UEFA’s boycott.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also weighed in, saying Infantino is “the wrong man” to lead FIFA.