The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and will not vote for his re-election, according to SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell. This decision signals a significant division within international football governance.
The global football community appears divided over Infantino's leadership. While confederations from Africa, South America, and Oceania have backed him, internal disagreements exist even within these regions. For instance, within Oceania, New Zealand has indicated it will not follow the confederation's lead and will not vote for Infantino. Similarly, in the CONCACAF region, Mexico, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis have broken ranks with the other 32 member nations to support the FIFA president. Eight of the 46 Asian confederation members have also expressed support for Infantino's cause, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Kuwait, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Bhutan.
The FIFA Council itself, comprising Infantino and 36 heads of confederations and national associations, also appears to be split. This internal division raises questions about Infantino's political ability to govern FIFA, even if he secures re-election from the 211 member associations.
The next significant test of European confederation (UEFA) sentiment is anticipated in just over three weeks with the kickoff of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, hosted by Poland and featuring five other European nations, including England.