New Zealand Football withdraws backing for Gianni Infantino
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New Zealand Football has formally withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election and called for an independent review of Fifa’s Forward Enterprise Scheme, breaking with Oceania’s governing body. The move intensifies concerns about governance and trust in Fifa following the abandoned proposal to sell 20% of World Cup commercial rights to private investors.
New Zealand joins England, Wales, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in opposing Infantino’s fourth-term bid, while Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf have also withdrawn support. Infantino needs 106 votes at March’s Fifa Congress; Caf and Conmebol still back him, while the OFC welcomed Fifa withdrawing the proposal but did not take a position on his re-election.
- New Zealand withdraws support for Gianni Infantino.
- It calls for an independent Fifa review.
- Opposition to Infantino spans three confederations.
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Fifa is football’s world governing body, responsible for organising the World Cup and setting rules for the international game. Gianni Infantino has been Fifa president since 2016 and is seeking another term, which is decided by national football associations voting at Fifa’s annual congress.
New Zealand Football is the body that runs the sport in New Zealand, while the Oceania Football Confederation represents countries in the Pacific region. National associations can choose their own position even when their regional body takes a different approach.
The Forward Enterprise Scheme is a Fifa programme intended to direct money from football’s commercial income into developing the game around the world. Questions about how Fifa raises, manages and distributes such funds are part of a wider debate about the organisation’s governance and the trust its member associations place in it.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Withdrawing support is a principled way for national associations to demand stronger accountability from Fifa’s leadership. Advocates argue that the proposed sale of World Cup commercial rights and questions around the Forward Enterprise Scheme warrant genuinely independent scrutiny, because football’s revenues are a public trust for member associations and communities. They contend that withholding endorsement is not a judgement on every policy, but leverage for transparent governance before another term is granted.
The case against
Supporters of retaining confidence in Infantino could argue that Fifa’s decision to abandon the commercial-rights proposal shows the organisation can respond to concerns without destabilising its leadership. They may value continuity in global football, particularly where development funding and long-term tournament planning depend on predictable relationships between Fifa and smaller associations. From this view, specific governance questions should be investigated on their merits while allowing the Congress’s full membership to decide the presidency rather than treating them as grounds for pre-emptive political withdrawal.
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Originally published by BBC Sport as “New Zealand break with OFC to withdraw Infantino support”.