The Italian Football Federation has joined other countries in withdrawing its endorsement of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The FIGC announced it will not support Infantino’s reelection bid in March due to concerns over recent FIFA governance and competition development initiatives.
Pressure has mounted on Infantino following his abandoned proposal to sell shares of the World Cup to private equity investors, with three continental confederations accusing him of deception and UEFA threatening a boycott of FIFA events.
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò stated that they will collaborate with UEFA and other European federations to advocate for a soccer vision based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement. They emphasize the importance of dialogue, listening, and shared responsibility in advancing the sport.
England, Wales, and Ireland soccer federations had previously withdrawn their support for Infantino, as did Norway and five other Nordic countries, expressing a loss of confidence in his leadership.
Despite initial expectations of an uncontested reelection, Infantino’s standing has been challenged by some FIFA member federations. While some nations, including Morocco and Qatar, back him, others like Saudi Arabia have not publicly endorsed him despite their political ties.
In a significant development, UEFA is poised to retract its boycott threat of FIFA competitions following assurances that Infantino’s controversial World Cup sell-off plan will not be revived. This move will allow six European teams to participate in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
Infantino faced global backlash over his proposed $20 billion subsidiary to control FIFA commercial rights, which was swiftly retracted in response to the outcry led by UEFA. The European soccer body had demanded guarantees that the plan would not resurface in a different form, a condition that has reportedly been met.
Amidst the turmoil, UEFA had expressed lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, signaling potential opposition to his reelection bid in March 2023.