Infantino Faces Growing Opposition as More Nations Withdraw FIFA Election Support

By Dorcas Francis Koji

Pressure continues to mount on FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Serbia and Sweden became the latest football associations to withdraw their support for his bid for another term in office, joining Wales in a growing wave of opposition.

The latest developments represent another setback for Infantino’s re-election ambitions as concerns over FIFA’s governance and leadership continue to intensify.

The backlash follows the collapse of FIFA’s controversial proposal to sell approximately a 20 per cent stake in a newly created commercial entity responsible for managing major competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.

The investment plan, which was expected to generate as much as $4.2 billion through private funding, was abandoned last Friday after facing significant resistance from stakeholders.

In a statement released on Monday, the Football Association of Serbia confirmed it had reversed its earlier decision to endorse Infantino.

“The Football Association of Serbia has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino for a new term as President of FIFA,” the statement read.

“We previously expressed our support in writing on May 25, but after carefully assessing recent events that have seriously affected the image and reputation of both FIFA and its president, we believe this is the only reasonable decision.”

The Swedish Football Association also announced that it would no longer back Infantino, citing concerns over the administration of world football’s governing body.

Following an extraordinary board meeting, the federation said it had lost confidence in the FIFA president’s leadership.

“The decision follows a long-term assessment of developments within FIFA and its leadership,” the association stated.

“Recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and overall management mean we no longer have confidence in Gianni Infantino’s leadership.”

Earlier on Monday, Wales became the first national football association to officially withdraw its endorsement of Infantino, signalling growing dissatisfaction among FIFA’s member associations.

According to Reuters, England’s Football Association is also expected to reconsider its support, a move that could further weaken the FIFA president’s position ahead of the upcoming election.

The increasing number of withdrawals highlights growing concerns over FIFA’s direction, with critics calling for greater transparency and stronger governance following the collapse of the proposed commercial investment initiative.