Wales first nation to withdraw support for FIFA president Infantino

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has publicly withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's bid to continue as FIFA president, marking a significant challenge to his leadership. Wales is the first nation to take this step, citing a loss of confidence in Infantino following his abandoned plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment firms.

The FAW's statement detailed "recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement." The association declared that these issues have led to a position where Infantino has lost their confidence to remain at the helm of world football. They emphasized that failing to prioritize football's best interests is an unacceptable failure.

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The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football.

Infantino's proposed deal had ignited a global backlash, with UEFA, European football's governing body, threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. Both UEFA and CONCACAF, which oversees football in North, Central America, and the Caribbean, had previously released statements criticizing FIFA's leadership after Infantino decided to pull the plan.

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Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.