Wales Withdraws Support For Infantino’s FIFA Re-Election Bid

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election, citing concerns over his leadership following the failed attempt to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.

Infantino last week abandoned the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal after it faced widespread opposition and was rejected by three continental confederations. The setback has intensified scrutiny of his leadership nearly a decade after taking office.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Friday described Infantino as the “wrong man” to lead FIFA, while the English Football Association called for a “full and robust review” of his leadership.

Although the FAW had previously indicated it would support Infantino’s re-election campaign before details of the FFE proposal emerged, the Welsh governing body confirmed on Monday that it had reversed its position.

In a statement, the FAW said: “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 English FA is also understood to have formally informed FIFA that it no longer supports Infantino.

Read Also: BREAKING: FIFA Withdraws Forward Enterprise Project

The FA had earlier stated it “fully supported” UEFA’s position that confidence in the FIFA president had been undermined by the handling of the FFE proposal.

UEFA also warned that “no option should be off the table,” including the possibility of national associations triggering a vote of no confidence in Infantino, which could result in an Extraordinary FIFA Congress.

Under FIFA statutes, such a move would require the backing of at least 43 member associations, although observers believe it would only proceed if there were sufficient support among FIFA’s 211 members to remove the president.

CONCACAF, representing football associations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also called for a “full review” of Infantino’s leadership, bringing the combined number of associations represented by UEFA and CONCACAF to 96.

According to reports, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, who currently serves as a FIFA vice-president, is willing to contest the FIFA presidency if an election is triggered.

Meanwhile, several football associations from Africa and Asia, including Morocco, Egypt and Qatar, have publicly backed Infantino in recent days.

UEFA has also written to Infantino indicating it is “actively considering” legal action over the FFE proposal.

According to the letter seen by the Press Association, UEFA instructed Infantino and FIFA to “take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or FIFA’s possession, custody, or control”.