The Football Association (FA) is set to formally withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino‘s re-election as the FIFA president. This decision adds to increasing pressure on his current tenure. The FA will inform FIFA in writing that it no longer endorses Infantino for a fourth term, a reversal from its previous backing.
This move by the English FA follows a similar action by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), which confirmed its withdrawal of support earlier. The FAW stated that recent issues in governance, leadership, and judgement have led to a loss of confidence in Mr. Infantino to lead world football.
Mounting European opposition
More European nations are anticipated to follow suit in an effort to prompt Infantino’s resignation. The Football Association of Finland was the first country to withdraw its support. Reports indicate that UEFA federations have been preparing a widespread withdrawal of letters supporting Infantino.
Prior to recent revelations concerning a privately supported plan to sell a stake in FIFA competitions, nearly all of Europe’s 55 member associations had communicated their backing. The FA has consistently criticised the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, both publicly and privately. On Saturday, the FA called for a comprehensive review of FIFA’s leadership and governance.
While the FA’s position is firm, it is not expected to publicly release its withdrawal letter. This approach is shared by some other European entities, who believe that the movement to unseat Infantino needs to gain momentum across different continents. Opposition within Europe is not seen as difficult to achieve, but Infantino’s future may largely depend on the leadership demonstrated by members of the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, where opinions on his presidency have been more varied.
Laura McAllister, a UEFA vice-president and former Wales international, played a significant role in opposing Infantino. During a meeting of member associations last Thursday, she advocated for a Europe-led boycott of FIFA competitions if the FFE scheme was not abandoned. This led to a collective agreement that effectively made the plan unfeasible.
Potential successors to the FIFA presidency
As pressure mounts on Gianni Infantino, discussions have emerged regarding potential candidates for the FIFA presidency. Infantino is currently slated to seek re-election in March for what would be his fourth and final term, requiring 106 votes from FIFA’s 211 members to secure victory. However, national associations, including those from England and Wales, have started to retract their letters of support for his re-election.
Among the names mentioned as potential successors is Victor Montagliani, the president of Concacaf. Montagliani was elected in 2016 with a platform focused on governance reform. He was heavily involved in the preparations and delivery of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by three nations. Montagliani is fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, and English. He led Concacaf in hosting an expanded Copa America in 2024 and has been politically adept, smoothing relations regarding former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger‘s proposal for a biennial World Cup.
Another prominent figure is Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the AFC. First elected in 2013, Al Khalifa was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term that extends until 2027. He has overseen substantial growth within the Asian confederation, including the launch of the Women’s Champions League in 2024-25 and the expansion of the Asian Cup to 24 teams. Al Khalifa has been critical of how FIFA is being managed by Infantino and has the backing of a 46-member confederation.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of Paris St-Germain, also emerged as a significant figure after becoming chairman of the European Clubs’ Association following the collapse of the European Super League in 2021. He expanded the association to over 800 members, with only Real Madrid remaining outside the group among the largest clubs. While theoretically a strong challenger to Infantino, sources close to Al-Khelaifi suggest he is not interested in the role.
Mattias Grafstrom, appointed FIFA secretary general in May 2024, has become an increasingly influential voice within FIFA. He served as Infantino’s chief of staff after his election in 2016. However, his close association with Infantino and the general sentiment that FIFA’s next president should not be European could be factors against him. Candidates have until 18 November to put their names forward for the election, which will be confirmed at FIFA’s 77th Congress in Morocco next March.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
