Wales FA withdraws support for Infantino re-election after FIFA stake plan

Wales is the first football federation to formally withdraw support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid after a botched World Cup investment plan was scrapped.

Wales said it will ‌withdraw support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid for a new term ⁠from ۲۰۲۷-۲۰۳۱, after ⁠his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights.

FIFA’s ambitious plan to unlock up to $۴.۲bn from private investors by ⁠selling a roughly ۲۰ percent stake in a new entity overseeing competitions, including the World Cup, ended in retreat on Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders.

With the plan abandoned, attention ⁠has turned to the potential repercussions for Infantino, whose bid for another term as FIFA president could face increased scrutiny following the failed initiative.

Failure of good governance

Wales became the first national federation to formally withdraw its support 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 ۲۰۲۷–۲۰۳۱ term,” the Welsh FA said in a statement on Monday.

“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.”

FIFA are yet to publicly comment on the Wales statement.

Infantino is under unprecedented fire after regional confederations for Europe (UEFA) and North and Central America (CONCACAF) said on Saturday they had lost confidence in his leadership.

The European governing body, which led the backlash to Infantino’s plans ⁠and welcomed the decision to scrap it, did not confirm media reports that it was preparing to take legal action against ⁠FIFA over the issue.

UEFA said it had sent a ⁠document preservation order, which stops the destruction of emails, files or data when an investigation is expected.

Infantino had said in April he intended to seek re-election for a fourth term as FIFA chief. Since taking over ‌from Sepp Blatter in ۲۰۱۶, the Swiss has been re-elected unopposed twice and appeared in control of the body.

While his re-election for the ۲۰۲۷-۳۱ term had appeared a formality, ‌experts told Reuters that the backlash against the failed proposal exposed dissatisfaction among FIFA members and could complicate his path ahead of March’s Congress in Morocco.