The Italian Football Federation has joined a growing number of countries in withdrawing its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. In a statement released on Wednesday, the FIGC announced that it would no longer support Infantino’s reelection bid in March due to concerns about recent FIFA governance and international competition development initiatives.
Infantino has faced mounting pressure to resign following his now-scrapped proposal to sell shares of the World Cup to private equity investors. Three continental confederations in soccer accused him of deceit, and UEFA, the European soccer governing body, threatened to boycott FIFA events.
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò stated, “We will collaborate with UEFA and other European federations to advocate for a soccer model based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement.”
England, Wales, and Ireland’s football federations had previously withdrawn their support for Infantino’s reelection, with Norway also urging him to step down. Furthermore, five Nordic countries, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands, expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
Despite facing backlash over his proposals, Infantino, who has been FIFA President since 2016, was previously expected to be reelected unopposed in Morocco next year. FIFA has set a deadline of November 18 for potential challengers to enter the race.
While some of FIFA’s member federations continue to endorse Infantino, including the co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup, Morocco, and the 2022 World Cup host, Qatar, others like Saudi Arabia, the 2034 host, have not publicly supported him despite their close political ties.
In a positive development, UEFA is poised to withdraw its boycott threat of FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that Infantino’s failed World Cup sell-off plan will not be revisited. UEFA member federations are expected to formalize this decision during a meeting in Monaco, allowing six European teams to participate in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
In response to the public outcry, Infantino abandoned his $20 billion subsidiary plan, which involved private investors led by a New York fund. UEFA, along with other football confederations, had strongly opposed the proposal. UEFA had demanded guarantees that a similar plan would not resurface, a reassurance that has now been provided.
On August 1, UEFA had expressed its lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, signaling potential opposition to his reelection in March 2023.