European football associations are preparing to increase pressure on Gianni Infantino by collectively withdrawing the letters that endorsed his campaign for another term as Fifa president.
Infantino’s leadership is facing a serious threat following the failure of his privately funded proposal to sell parts of the World Cup. The plan was largely derailed after Uefa associations warned they could boycott future Fifa tournaments. Tensions remain high, and many officials across Europe want him removed from office without delay.
A growing number of national associations are now considering formally retracting their support in an attempt to accelerate Infantino’s departure, with statements expected in the coming days. Before the recent crisis, 52 of Uefa’s 55 members had submitted endorsement letters, with Germany, Romania and Norway the only exceptions. At that point, another term for the Swiss official appeared almost certain.
The associations could withdraw their endorsements at the same time or act separately. Either approach would effectively represent a vote of no confidence and place additional pressure on Infantino to step down. Any country seeking to revoke its letter must formally inform Fifa.
Talks are also taking place with countries belonging to other regional bodies. Although the Fifa Forward Enterprise initiative failed, several members of the Asian Football Confederation publicly expressed support for Infantino over the weekend. European football sources have questioned whether those associations fully understand the scale of opposition he currently faces.
Qatar declared its backing for Infantino on Saturday, followed a day later by Sri Lanka and Kuwait. However, Asian associations do not always vote as a unified bloc, meaning some members dissatisfied with his leadership could eventually align themselves with the European campaign.
More than 200 of Fifa’s 211 member associations are reported to have submitted letters supporting Infantino. The organisation is believed to have strongly encouraged hesitant members to endorse him, even when his position seemed secure. Several associations offered public backing despite privately holding concerns about his presidency, but patience is now fading in Europe and elsewhere.
Attempts to find a replacement candidate are intensifying. Any challenger would need substantial backing beyond Europe, especially from the Asian confederation and Concacaf, which represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Quickly uniting behind a credible contender may help convince Infantino that remaining in office is no longer realistic.
Infantino nevertheless appears committed to staying in his role and is thought to be contacting individual associations worldwide to preserve their support. The African and South American confederations continue to stand firmly behind him, making Asia and North America the main areas of competition as Uefa members push for a change in Fifa’s leadership.
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