Wales Withdraws Support for Infantino's Re-election as FIFA President
Gianni Infantino’s grip on power at Fifa has come under fresh strain after the Football Association of Wales (FAW) dramatically withdrew its backing for his re-election, citing “failures in good governance” and a loss of confidence in his leadership.
The move makes Wales the first national association to publicly abandon support for the Swiss official’s bid to remain Fifa president for the 2027–2031 term, and it lands just days after Infantino was forced into a humiliating retreat over his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
That proposal, widely condemned across the game, had already been rejected by three confederations before Infantino announced last week that he was shelving it. The damage, though, has not gone away. Instead, it has sharpened long-standing concerns over how the world governing body is being run.
Political pressure has been building. The UK prime minister, Andy Burnham, stepped in on Friday with a blunt assessment, calling Infantino the “wrong man” to lead Fifa. England’s Football Association followed by demanding a “full and robust review” of his leadership.
Wales has now gone a step further.
In a strongly worded statement, the FAW confirmed it no longer supports Infantino’s candidacy for another term. It did not hedge or soften the message.
“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 statement read.
It then laid out, point by point, where it believes the current Fifa regime has failed: “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.”
Those are not the words of a federation looking to quietly distance itself. They are the words of a member association openly challenging the direction of the sport’s most powerful institution.
Infantino, whose decade-long reign has already been marked by controversy and intense scrutiny, is due to stand for re-election in March next year. Until now, he has largely moved through such storms with his authority intact, backed by strong support in many regions.
Wales has just signalled that loyalty is no longer guaranteed. The question now is whether other associations are prepared to follow.
