The Italian football federation has joined a growing number of countries in withdrawing its endorsement for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The FIGC announced on Wednesday that it would no longer support Infantino’s candidacy for reelection in March due to concerns about his recent actions regarding governance and international competitions development.
Infantino has faced mounting pressure to resign following his abandoned proposal to sell shares in the World Cup to private equity investors. Three continental confederations in football accused him of deceit, and UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA events. FIGC President Giovanni Malagò stated, “We will collaborate with UEFA and other European federations to advocate for a soccer vision based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and the importance of fans.”
The football federations of England, Wales, and Ireland had previously withdrawn their support for Infantino’s reelection, while Norway has called for his resignation. Additionally, five other Nordic countries, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands, expressed a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, was expected to be reelected unopposed in Morocco next year before the backlash against his proposals. Some FIFA member federations, including the 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar, and Lebanon, have voiced support for Infantino. However, Saudi Arabia, the host for the 2034 World Cup, has not publicly endorsed him despite their close political ties.
UEFA is reportedly planning to withdraw its boycott threat against FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that Infantino’s failed World Cup sell-off plan will not be revived. UEFA’s member federations are expected to make this decision during a meeting in Monaco ahead of the Champions League draw. This development will allow six European teams to participate in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Infantino faced global criticism last month when details of his $20 billion subsidiary plan, which included the World Cup commercial rights, were revealed. The proposal, involving investors led by a New York fund managed by Joshua Kushner, was swiftly abandoned due to strong opposition from UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF. UEFA had demanded guarantees that the plan would not resurface in a different form, which have since been provided.
On August 1, UEFA publicly expressed a lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, indicating a potential challenge to his reelection in March 2023.