The Italian Football Federation has joined the trend of countries withdrawing their backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. In a statement released on Wednesday, the FIGC announced its decision not to support Infantino’s bid for reelection in March due to concerns about recent FIFA governance and international competition development initiatives.
Infantino has faced mounting pressure to resign following his now-abandoned proposal to sell shares of the World Cup, soccer’s premier tournament, to private equity investors. Three continental confederations in the sport accused him of deceit, and UEFA, the European soccer governing body, threatened to boycott FIFA events.
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò emphasized the federation’s commitment to collaborating with UEFA and other European associations to uphold a soccer model based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement. Malagò highlighted the importance of dialogue, listening, and shared responsibility in fostering soccer growth while preserving its core principles.
England, Wales, and Ireland football federations had already withdrawn their support for Infantino’s reelection earlier in the month. Norway also called for Infantino’s resignation and joined five other Nordic countries in expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Despite facing criticism over his proposals, Infantino was expected to secure a reelection unopposed in Morocco next year before the backlash. FIFA has set a November 18 deadline for potential challengers to declare their candidacy.
While several FIFA member federations are backing Infantino, including 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar, and Lebanon, some countries like Saudi Arabia, the 2034 World Cup host, have not publicly endorsed him despite their close ties.
UEFA is reportedly poised to retract 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 convening in Monaco on Thursday to discuss the issue and are likely to end the boycott threat.
The resolution to forgo a boycott will enable six European teams to participate in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland starting on September 5. Teams from France, Spain, England, Italy, Portugal, and Poland have already announced their squads for the tournament.
Infantino faced widespread backlash last month when his $20 billion subsidiary proposal, including control of FIFA commercial rights such as the World Cup, was disclosed. The plan, which involved investors led by a New York fund associated with Joshua Kushner, was swiftly retracted following criticism from UEFA and other confederations.
UEFA had previously expressed a lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership and signaled its intention to oppose his reelection in March 2023.