Fifa boycott threat pushes Wales to abandon Infantino
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Wales has become the first national football association to publicly withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino's bid to remain Fifa president for the 2027-2031 term, in what is the most concrete sign yet of eroding backing for his leadership. The move follows widespread anger over Infantino's now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in Fifa's competitions to private investment firms, a scheme that had prompted Uefa to threaten a boycott of all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup.
The Football Association of Wales said Infantino had lost its confidence due to "failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement," adding that failing to prioritise football's best interests was unacceptable. Uefa and Concacaf, which governs football across North and Central America and the Caribbean, also issued statements on Saturday criticising Fifa's leadership after Infantino scrapped the investment proposal, though Wales is the first individual member association to go public with a formal withdrawal of support.
- Wales first nation to publicly withdraw support for Infantino's Fifa bid
- Move follows anger over scrapped plan to sell competition stakes
- Uefa and Concacaf also criticised Fifa's leadership on Saturday
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Wales's national football team is run by the Football Association of Wales, one of well over 200 member associations that make up Fifa, football's world governing body. Fifa is led by president Gianni Infantino, who took charge in 2016 and is seeking a further term covering 2027 to 2031. National associations like Wales, along with continental bodies such as Uefa (Europe) and Concacaf (North and Central America and the Caribbean), have influence over who leads Fifa and how it is run.
Tensions had been building over a plan, since dropped, that would have seen Fifa sell stakes in its competitions to private investment firms. Uefa reacted strongly, going as far as to threaten a boycott of Fifa competitions, including the World Cup, if the plan went ahead.
This matters because Fifa oversees the World Cup and sets the direction for football worldwide, so disputes over its leadership and governance can affect how the sport is organised and funded internationally.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of Infantino's leadership argue that under his presidency Fifa has dramatically increased its revenues, expanded major tournaments such as the World Cup, and reinvested substantial sums into member associations and grassroots football worldwide. They contend that exploring new funding mechanisms, including private investment in competitions, was a legitimate and responsible attempt to secure football's long-term financial future, and that withdrawing the proposal once concerns were raised shows a leadership willing to listen rather than one acting in bad faith. From this perspective, criticism from national associations risks undermining a president who has delivered tangible commercial success for the global game.
The case against
Critics, including the Football Association of Wales, Uefa and Concacaf, argue that Infantino's handling of the private investment scheme revealed deeper problems of governance, transparency and consultation at Fifa's highest level. They believe major decisions affecting the future of world football's competitions should not be pursued without meaningful engagement with confederations and member associations, and that the episode reflects a pattern of centralised decision-making that sidelines stakeholders. For these critics, safeguarding football's traditions and collective governance structures matters more than short-term commercial opportunities, and confidence in leadership depends on demonstrated respect for due process.
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Originally published by BBC Sport as “Wales first nation to withdraw support for Infantino”.