The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has officially withdrawn its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, following a board meeting that cited concerns over governance, transparency, and a lack of consultation. The FAI previously indicated its support for Infantino but has now rescinded that backing in a letter to the world football's governing body.
This decision comes after a period of controversy surrounding Infantino's leadership. In a recent open letter, European football's governing body Uefa, along with Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, accused Infantino of breaking trust "through deception." This was reportedly in response to an attempt by Infantino to sell a stake in Fifa's commercial operations to a private investment company, a plan that has since been abandoned.
The FAI stated that its own past governance challenges created an obligation to advocate for best practices. "The Association is grateful for the support that Fifa provides to Irish football, but recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation," the FAI confirmed in a statement.
Northern Ireland's governing body, the Irish Football Association (IFA), has confirmed it is backing Uefa's stance on the matter. While the IFA has not formally withdrawn support for Infantino, a spokesperson noted the "wider concerns" within the football community and stated they are "considering these matters carefully and will continue to engage through the appropriate governance structures and channels."
Last week, the Welsh FA was the first home nation to withdraw support, followed by the FA, with the FAI now joining them in rescinding its backing for the Fifa president.