Wales First To Withdraw Support For Infantino As Re-Election Pressure Grows

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Sweden, Wales and Serbia withdraw support for Gianni Infantino re-election. England expected to join Sweden in dropping backing for FIFA President.

Infantino faces backlash as three European FAs pull support for re-election...

The Swedish FA (SvFF) joined the football associations of Wales and Serbia in pulling their backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid on Monday, August 3rd. The English FA is also expected to follow suit.

Criticism of the head of world football’s governing body has grown after his proposal to sell a share of the World Cup to private investors fell through.

“At an extraordinary board meeting on Monday, SvFF has ⁠chosen not to support FIFA President Gianni Infantino in ‌the upcoming re-election,” the Swedish federation said.

“This is after a long-term assessment of the development within FIFA and the ​organisation's leadership. The decision is based on recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and management, which means that trust in Gianni Infantino's leadership no longer exists.”

Earlier, Wales became the first national association to officially pull its backing for Infantino.

“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 to ⁠2031 term,” the Welsh FA (FAW) said in a statement.

“The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where 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 FAW added.

England's ‌FA will also withdraw its support for Infantino, a source familiar with the organisation said, while Serbia followed Wales' lead: “The Football Association of Serbia has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino for a new term as President of ‌FIFA,” the association said in a statement.

“We remind that we provided Mr. Infantino with our ‌support on May 25 of this year in written form, but after carefully reviewing the events that, in the recent period, have seriously damaged the image and reputation of both FIFA and its President, this is the only logical and rational ‌decision.”