The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president, marking the first national football association to take such a step. The decision comes in the wake of a controversial and unsuccessful proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Infantino, whose decade-long reign faces increasing scrutiny, announced on Friday night that he was shelving the widely-denounced privatization plan. The proposal had been rejected by three separate confederations after first being revealed earlier in the week. Infantino is scheduled to stand for re-election in March next year for the 2027–2031 term.
Following the development, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that Infantino is the "wrong man" to lead FIFA. Meanwhile, the English Football Association (FA) called for a "full and robust review" into his leadership.
In an official statement, the FAW confirmed its decision: "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."
The Welsh governing body pointed to "recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement" as the reasons for its decision. The FAW added: "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."
The move by Wales follows a declaration of a loss of confidence in the FIFA boss by UEFA, European football's governing body, on Saturday. In a lengthy statement outlining its position, UEFA quoted a speech Infantino made when he came to power a decade ago. A statement from UEFA read: “The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”
UEFA's statement also “welcomed” the decision to cancel the scheme, adding: “The proposal was unanimously rejected by Uefa’s national associations and by many other federations and confederations of all sizes around the world, whose job it is to protect football.” Concacaf and the AFC also criticised the proposals, placing a significant number of FIFA's member associations in direct opposition to the governing body.
The English FA released its own statement later on Saturday, questioning FIFA’s leadership. The FA wrote: “We fully support Uefa’s position. It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart.”
Related Articles
Meet Md. Rubel Rana
As a core contributor to Worlddincidents.com, Rubel Rana brings a unique perspective to the world of journalism. Whether it’s deep-diving into historical trivia or covering the latest global headlines, Rubel Rana is committed to delivering high-quality, high-impact articles. Their writing blends meticulous research with a compelling voice, helping readers stay informed and curious about the world around them.