Listen to this article
Estimated 2 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The Italian soccer federation became the latest in a growing list of nations to withdraw its support for embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The FIGC issued a statement on Wednesday saying it would no longer back Infantino’s bid for reelection in March because of “the recent initiatives promoted by the FIFA president concerning governance and the development of international competitions.”
Infantino has come under increasing pressure to step down over his now-aborted plan to sell stakes in soccer’s biggest tournament, the World Cup, to private equity investors. Three of the sport’s continental confederations accused him of “deception” and European soccer body UEFA threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions.
“We will continue to work alongside UEFA and the other European federations to promote a vision of soccer based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and the centrality of fans,” FIGC President Giovanni Malagò said.
“We identify with a model of dialogue, listening, and shared responsibility that has, until now, allowed soccer to grow, innovate and at the same time defend its founding principles.”
Avneet Dhillon breaks down the open letter to FIFA from several soccer federations accusing President Gianni Infantino of deception over his proposal to sell a portion of the World Cup to private investors.
(Photo credits: The Canadian Press, Reuters, Adobe Stock and Getty Images)
The soccer federations in England, Wales and Ireland withdrew their support for Infantino’s reelection earlier this month, while Norway has called on him to step down as well as issuing a statement with five other Nordic countries — Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and the Faeroe Islands — to say they had “lost confidence” in his leadership.
Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and, until the backlash over his proposals, seemed sure to be reelected unopposed next year in Morocco. FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to nominate.
Some of FIFA’s 211 member federations are supporting Infantino, including 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco as well as Qatar, where he lived before the emirate hosted the 2022 World Cup, and Lebanon, which gave him citizenship this year. Saudi Arabia, the 2034 host, has not publicly backed Infantino despite his close political ties to the kingdom.
Discussion about this post