Italy’s soccer federation has joined the ranks of nations withdrawing their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Wednesday that it would no longer endorse Infantino’s bid for reelection in March due to recent FIFA governance and international competition development initiatives.
Infantino has faced mounting pressure to resign following his now-scrapped 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, “We will collaborate with UEFA and other European federations to advocate for a soccer model based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement.”
The football federations of England, Wales, and Ireland had previously withdrawn their support for Infantino’s reelection, with Norway also urging him to step down. Several Nordic countries, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands, expressed a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Despite the backlash, Infantino appeared poised for uncontested reelection in Morocco next year until the recent uproar. Some FIFA member federations, including 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar, and Lebanon, continue to support him. Notably, Saudi Arabia, the 2034 World Cup host, has not publicly endorsed Infantino.
UEFA is expected to retract its boycott threat against FIFA competitions following assurances that Infantino’s failed World Cup sell-off plan will not be revived. The decision is anticipated to be formalized during a meeting of UEFA member federations in Monaco on Thursday.
The resolution to abandon the boycott threat will allow six European teams to participate in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, starting on September 5. France, Spain, England, Italy, Portugal, and Poland are among the nations preparing for the tournament.
Infantino’s proposal for a $20 billion subsidiary to control FIFA commercial rights, including the World Cup, was met with global disapproval. Following the backlash led by UEFA and other confederations, the plan was swiftly retracted. UEFA sought assurances that the proposal would not resurface in a different form, which have now been provided.
UEFA had previously expressed a lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership on August 1, signaling its intention to oppose his reelection in March.