FAI Withdraws Support for Fifa President Infantino
The Football Association of Ireland has pulled the plug on its backing for embattled Fifa president Gianni Infantino, as pressure from Europe tightens around the head of world football.
The move comes after Uefa, joined by Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, signed an explosive open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception” over his attempt to sell a stake in Fifa’s commercial operations to a private investment firm. That proposal has since been scrapped, but the political damage is very much alive – and now threatening his bid for a fourth term.
FAI walks away
The FAI, which had previously indicated support for Infantino before the post-World Cup storm, confirmed it has formally withdrawn that backing in a letter to Fifa.
“Following an FAI board meeting, the decision was taken to rescind the letter of support that the Association supplied earlier this year,” the association stated.
The tone of the explanation underlined why this rupture matters. The FAI acknowledged the financial and structural help Fifa has provided to Irish football, but said “recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation”.
Then came the pointed reminder of its own troubled past.
“Considering the governance challenges that the FAI has had to overcome in recent years, the Association feels a particular obligation to advocate for and uphold best practice.”
For an organisation still rebuilding its reputation after its own governance crisis, turning publicly against the sitting Fifa president is a striking step. It places the Republic of Ireland alongside a growing list of European associations no longer willing to stand behind Infantino.
The Welsh FA was the first of the home nations to move, withdrawing support last week. The English FA followed days later. Now the FAI has joined them.
IFA backs Uefa but stops short
Across the border, the Irish Football Association has chosen a more cautious route – but the direction of travel is similar.
The IFA has not formally withdrawn support for Infantino. Yet it has nailed its colours to Uefa’s mast, aligning itself with the European governing body’s position and acknowledging the “wider concerns” sweeping through the game.
“We take our responsibilities as a member association of both Uefa and Fifa seriously,” an IFA spokesperson said.
“We support the current Uefa position on the matter and will continue to engage constructively on issues relating to football governance.
“We are of course aware of the recent developments and wider concerns within the football community. We are considering these matters carefully and will continue to engage through the appropriate governance structures and channels.
“At this stage, we have no further comment.”
The language is diplomatic, but the message is clear enough: Northern Ireland’s association is edging away from Infantino without yet slamming the door.
Infantino’s grip under strain
Infantino’s abandoned plan to sell off a stake in Fifa’s commercial arm has become the flashpoint for a much deeper argument about how the organisation is run and who gets a say. The open letter from Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation framed the episode as a breach of trust, not just a misjudged business proposal.
With European bodies peeling away and influential confederations publicly questioning his leadership, the political landscape around the Fifa presidency has shifted sharply. The latest intervention from Dublin, and the cautious repositioning in Belfast, add yet more weight to the growing sense that Infantino’s once-solid support base is starting to splinter.
How long that base holds will now define the next chapter of his presidency – and perhaps the balance of power inside Fifa itself.
