The Football Association of Wales (FAW) on Monday became the first member association to officially withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid as FIFA president, following intense global backlash over a scrapped proposal to sell private equity stakes in the FIFA World Cup.
​The announcement comes just days after Infantino was forced to abandon the controversial “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE) initiative. The plan which sought to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling a 20 percent commercial stake in global competitions to private investors sparked widespread outrage from UEFA, national associations, and fans worldwide.
​In a scathing public statement issued from Cardiff on Monday, the FAW confirmed it had formally reversed its stance ahead of the elective FIFA Congress scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.
​”The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr. Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027–2031 term,” the FAW stated.
​”The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications, and sound judgment have led us to a position where Mr. Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football. Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”
Infantino shelved the FFE privatization plan last Friday after heavy resistance from major continental bodies, including UEFA and CONCACAF.
European governing body UEFA issued a document preservation order to safeguard communications and warned that “no option should be off the table,” including a potential vote of no confidence.
The FAW’s decision is believed to be the opening move in a coordinated effort by European football leaders, with the English Football Association and other home nations expected to follow suit.
​Infantino, who has led football’s world governing body since 2016 and previously faced no major opposition for a fourth term, now faces the most serious challenge to his leadership in his decade-long tenure. FIFA has not yet issued an official response to the FAW’s statement.
