The Italian Football Federation has joined a growing number of countries in withdrawing its endorsement of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The FIGC stated on Wednesday that it will no longer support Infantino’s reelection bid in March due to concerns regarding FIFA’s governance and international competition development.
Infantino has faced mounting pressure to resign following his abandoned plan to sell shares in the World Cup to private equity investors. Three continental confederations in the sport accused him of being deceitful, and UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA events.
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò expressed solidarity with UEFA and other European federations in advocating for a soccer model based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement. The federation emphasized the importance of dialogue, listening, and shared responsibility in the development of soccer.
The football federations of England, Wales, and Ireland previously withdrew their support for Infantino’s reelection, while Norway called for his resignation. Five other Nordic countries, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands, also expressed a lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
Despite initial expectations of an uncontested reelection in Morocco next year, Infantino now faces opposition. While some FIFA member federations continue to support him, UEFA is expected to retract its boycott threat following assurances that Infantino’s controversial World Cup sell-off plan will not be revisited.
This development will allow European teams to participate in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup without disruptions. The tournament, set to commence on September 5 in Poland, will feature national teams from France, Spain, England, Italy, Portugal, and Poland.
Infantino’s proposal for a $20 billion subsidiary controlling FIFA commercial rights, which included the World Cup, was swiftly abandoned after widespread criticism. UEFA, along with other football governing bodies, expressed disapproval of the plan and questioned Infantino’s leadership. UEFA has now received assurances that the plan will not be reintroduced in a different form.
In a show of discontent with Infantino’s leadership, UEFA previously stated its lack of confidence in him and hinted at efforts to prevent his reelection in March 2023.