Wales becomes first nation to withdraw support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially withdrawn its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino‘s re-election bid, becoming the first football association to do so.

The decision follows his controversial, bungled attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

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Infantino, whose decade-long reign faces increasing scrutiny, announced on Friday night that he was shelving the widely-denounced plan, which had been rejected by three confederations after first being revealed earlier in the week.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has since stated Infantino is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa, while the Football Association (FA) called for a “full and robust review” into his leadership.

In a statement, the FAW confirmed: “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 2027–2031 term.”

The association cited “recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement” as reasons.

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It added: “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.”

Wales withdrawing its support for Infantino comes after Uefa, European football’s governing body, declared a loss of confidence in the Fifa boss on Saturday.

A statement read: “The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” it said.

Uefa quoted a speech Infantino made when he came to power a decade ago in a lengthy statement outlining its position. The statement “welcomed” the decision to cancel the scheme, adding: “The proposal was unanimously rejected by Uefa’s national associations and by many other federations and confederations of all sizes around the world, whose job it is to protect football.

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“Uefa thanks all the fans, leagues, clubs, players, individuals, associations and confederations that opposed the scheme, alongside the many Prime Ministers, Heads of State and commentators who have demonstrated to the Fifa President that football is not for sale.”

Concacaf and the AFC also criticised the proposals, pitting a significant number of Fifa’s member associations in direct opposition to the governing body.

The English FA released a statement later on Saturday that also questioned Fifa’s leadership, writing: “We fully support Uefa’s position. It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart.”

Infantino is due to stand for re-election in March next year.