Nordic nations lose faith in FIFA chief Infantino, demand reforms

Six Nordic football associations have publicly declared a loss of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino, demanding significant governance reforms at the world football governing body. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands met in Helsinki to issue a rare joint statement. They backed calls for Infantino's resignation from three major regional confederations and supported an independent investigation into his abandoned proposal to sell stakes in events like the World Cup to private equity investors.

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The six Nordic football associations have lost confidence in Fifa’s president and are concerned about the organisation’s governance and decision-making at the highest level.

The joint statement expressed concern over FIFA's governance and decision-making at the highest level. The Nordic associations affirmed their unity with UEFA and supported the measures proposed by the organization and its national member associations. They emphasized their expectation that FIFA will provide binding guarantees against the future privatization of its governance or competitions.

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The Nordic football associations stand united with UEFA and support the measures that the organisation and its national member associations have jointly proposed.

FIFA has been contacted for comment on the statement. Earlier, Denmark's football association had vowed to seek an alternative to Infantino in the upcoming election. Infantino faces pressure from UEFA, Asia's AFC, and North and Central America's Concacaf confederations to resign, with discussions about a potential vote of no confidence underway.

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We expect Fifa to provide binding guarantees that the organisation’s governance or competitions will never again be opened up to private ownership.

The Nordic FAs also called for a fully independent external investigation into the events surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. Furthermore, they urged FIFA to conduct a comprehensive and independent review of its governance framework to ensure the intended independence, checks and balances, transparency, and accountability are maintained, as established in FIFA's 2016 reform program. Infantino, seeking a fourth term until 2031, was reportedly in the Dominican Republic meeting with Caribbean Football Union officials, despite Concacaf President Victor Montagliani asking him to stay away from a youth tournament to avoid overshadowing the event.

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We also support the demand made by AFC, Concacaf and UEFA that a fully independent external investigation into the events surrounding the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal be established.