All Five Home Nations Reject Gianni Infantino Following FIFA Asset Deal
The Irish Football Association has formally withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of his planned re-election campaign, following an aborted attempt to sell a 21 percent stake in the governing body’s commercial assets to a private equity firm. The decision from Northern Ireland‘s governing body leaves Infantino without the backing of any football association across the Home Nations and the Republic of Ireland ahead of the presidential vote scheduled for March.
Irish FA Joins Unanimous Regional Opposition to FIFA Leadership
The withdrawal of support consolidates political opposition across the region, where the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland had already publicly rejected Infantino’s bid for a fourth term. FIFA‘s proposal to divest commercial rights, private investment companies acquiring equity stakes in broadcast or marketing operations, without consulting member associations triggered immediate pushback from UEFA, including threats of a competition boycott that ultimately forced the global governing body to abandon the deal.
Infantino is scheduled to stand for re-election in March, seeking to extend a tenure that began in 2016 through to 2031. The unanimous opposition from all five regional associations removes key European backing as the formal election process approaches.
“The proposal to sell part of Fifa’s assets to a private equity firm without consultation, represents more than a failure of communication. In our view, it raises fundamental questions about strategy, governance and stewardship of our assets. We believe the time has come for change.”
Reporting was originally published by BBC Sport NI.