English FA to withdraw Infantino support as FIFA president faces widening opposition

The English Football Association is set to write to FIFA withdrawing its support for president Gianni Infantino, according to reporting from ESPN and the BBC. The move follows Wales' announcement that it had become the first nation to publicly withdraw backing for Infantino's continued leadership, and aligns with a statement from UEFA, European football's governing body, that it has lost confidence in his direction.

Infantino has been in charge of FIFA for 10 years. Prior to the recent controversies, both the English FA and the Football Association of Wales had submitted letters of support for his reelection at next year's FIFA Congress. Both organizations reversed course after Infantino's proposal to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to private investors. The plan would have allowed external investors to buy into a company designed to run FIFA's main events, including its World Cups.

Opposition to the FFE plan emerged swiftly across three continents. UEFA, representing Europe's 55 national associations, stated it had lost confidence in Infantino's leadership and indicated it is actively considering legal action, arbitration, and regulatory complaints tied to the proposal. CONCACAF, representing North and Central American and Caribbean associations, called for a full review of Infantino's leadership. Combined, UEFA and CONCACAF represent 96 of FIFA's 211 member associations. On Saturday, according to ESPN reporting, FIFA announced it was scrapping the FFE plan entirely, citing the opposition.

The FAW, in its statement of withdrawal, cited failures in governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, and sound judgment. The English FA's letter is understood to communicate similar sentiments, though the organization has not yet made a formal public statement.

A no-confidence vote against Infantino would require sponsorship from only 43 FIFA member associations to trigger an Extraordinary FIFA Congress, according to ESPN's reporting. However, UEFA's statement made clear that any attempt to remove Infantino through such a vote would require strong confidence, if not certainty, that a majority of FIFA's 211 members existed to unseat him. The statement left the option explicitly open, noting no option should be off the table in reviewing FIFA's future direction.

Not all regional blocs have moved against Infantino. According to ESPN's reporting, a number of African and Asian football associations issued statements of support over the weekend, including those from Morocco, Egypt, and Qatar. Sources told the Press Association, as reported by ESPN, that CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, who serves as a current FIFA vice-president, has indicated a willingness to run for FIFA's top position, though this remains unconfirmed.

The FFE proposal's collapse removed the immediate trigger for the ongoing opposition, but the leadership crisis it exposed has not abated. Infantino's reelection bid at next year's FIFA Congress now faces significant uncertainty from major confederations on two continents.