The Italian Football Federation has joined other nations in withdrawing support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The FIGC announced it would no longer endorse Infantino’s reelection bid in March due to concerns regarding recent FIFA governance initiatives and international competition development.
Infantino faced mounting pressure to resign after his abandoned proposal to sell shares of the World Cup to private equity investors. Three continental confederations accused him of deceit, and UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA events.
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò stated that they will collaborate with UEFA and other European federations to advocate for a soccer model based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement. They support a dialogue-driven approach that has historically driven soccer’s growth while upholding its core principles.
England, Wales, and Ireland’s football associations had previously withdrawn their support for Infantino. Norway also urged him to step down, joined by five Nordic countries expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, previously seemed poised for reelection in Morocco next year before facing opposition. While some member federations back him, others, including UEFA, have expressed discontent with his leadership.
UEFA is expected to retract its boycott threat against FIFA competitions following assurances that Infantino’s controversial World Cup sell-off plan will not be revived. This decision will enable European teams to participate in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Infantino’s proposal for a $20 billion subsidiary controlling FIFA commercial rights was met with global criticism, prompting its swift withdrawal. UEFA’s demand for assurance that the plan will not resurface in a modified form has been met, dispelling concerns among European soccer organizations.
On August 1, UEFA signaled its lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, indicating possible opposition to his reelection in March 2023.