Islamabad (GNP): Pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino intensified Monday as a growing number of European football associations withdrew their backing for his bid to secure a fourth term in office. England’s Football Association became the most prominent to drop its support, confirming it would write to FIFA to say it no longer endorses Infantino’s re-election following sustained controversy over his failed plan to sell a private stake in the World Cup.
Wales and Serbia also confirmed they had withdrawn their backing, following Finland’s move last week. All three federations had previously written letters supporting Infantino’s continued tenure, but patience has worn thin across the continent. Sweden, one of five European federations that had not submitted a formal letter of support, separately confirmed it would oppose his candidacy in the presidential election set for March.
The FA had previously aligned itself with Infantino, who is expected to preside over an extraordinary FIFA congress in November confirming the United Kingdom’s hosting of the 2035 Women’s World Cup, provided he remains in office. However, the association had consistently criticized his now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme both publicly and privately, and had called over the weekend for a full review of FIFA’s leadership and governance structures.
The Football Association of Wales said recent failures in governance, leadership, communication and judgment had cost Infantino the confidence needed to continue leading world football, adding that the organization could not overlook a failure to prioritize the sport’s best interests. Serbia’s federation used similar language, saying the controversy had seriously damaged the credibility of both FIFA and its president, calling its withdrawal the only rational step available.
Not every European federation has followed suit. Switzerland’s football association stopped short of abandoning Infantino, who is Swiss, instead requesting a further personal exchange of views with him and saying it would continue monitoring developments before the leadership election.
Federations in Asia and North and Central America have criticized Infantino but have not yet withdrawn their letters of support, a step some in Europe view as important to broadening the coalition against him. Only 15 countries have publicly backed Infantino since he shelved the investment scheme over the weekend.
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Victor Montagliani, president of the Concacaf confederation, has emerged as a potential successor should Infantino be removed, and is understood to share the view held by Uefa and Asian football leadership that new leadership is needed at FIFA.
Adding to the pressure, lawyers representing UEFA have instructed Infantino and other FIFA staff, including chief of global football development Arsène Wenger, to identify and preserve all documents related to the shelved scheme, citing possible legal action, arbitration or regulatory complaints. Investment firm Thrive Eternal, which had been expected to take a 20 percent stake in the project, and JP Morgan, which held an advisory role, are both understood to have received similar instructions.
Separately, the US State Department denied reports Monday that Infantino had been scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an effort to shore up support for his continued leadership of FIFA.
