Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Swiss Football Association Withdraws Support for Infantino
The Swiss Football Association no longer supports Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president.
FIFA is football’s world governing body.
Swiss officials said they were worried about how FIFA is being led.
They questioned plans to let private investors buy stakes in a new FIFA company.
Those plans were later put aside after criticism.
They also questioned why Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension was lifted after a phone call involving Donald Trump.
Infantino still has support from some important football groups and countries.
The Swiss association says it wants FIFA to be more transparent and follow clear rules.
The Swiss Football Association withdrew its support for Gianni Infantino’s next FIFA presidential bid.
The association cited concerns about FIFA leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making.
Infantino’s proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise commercial subsidiary was shelved after strong backlash.
The SFV also questioned the lifting of Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension after a call involving Donald Trump.
UEFA is opposing Infantino, while Saudi Arabia, CAF and CONMEBOL continue to support him.
- Who
- The Swiss Football Association withdrew support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino; UEFA is leading opposition, while Saudi Arabia, CAF and CONMEBOL remain supportive.
- What
- The SFV withdrew its declared support for Infantino’s candidacy in the next FIFA presidential election.
- When
- The decision was announced Wednesday after the SFV executive board met on Friday; the articles refer to the election as next year’s election.
- Where
- The decision concerns FIFA, which is based in Switzerland; the SFV is Switzerland’s football governing body.
- Why
- The SFV cited unresolved concerns about FIFA’s leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making, including the FFE proposal and the lifting of a World Cup suspension.
Critics of Infantino
Infantino Supporters
Leadership and governance
Critics of Infantino
The SFV and UEFA argue that FIFA’s leadership, transparency, accountability and decision-making processes require major scrutiny and reform.
Infantino Supporters
Infantino’s supporters include Saudi Arabia, CAF and CONMEBOL, and FIFA leadership has proposed consulting national federations on governance reform.
Commercial subsidiary proposal
Critics of Infantino
Critics objected to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, particularly the possibility of private investors acquiring stakes in a company managing major FIFA events.
Infantino Supporters
Infantino proposed the initiative as a way to create a commercial subsidiary, but the plans were shelved after backlash.
Suspension decision
Critics of Infantino
The SFV said the lifting of Folarin Balogun’s one-match World Cup suspension raised unanswered questions about responsibilities and decision-making.
Infantino Supporters
The article reports that the suspension was lifted after a phone call to Infantino from United States President Donald Trump, while the supporters’ position on the decision is not stated.
- Decision
- The SFV withdrew support for Infantino’s candidacy for a further term as FIFA president.
- Main concern
- The association said fundamental questions about FIFA leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making remain unanswered.
- FFE proposal
- Infantino proposed allowing private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
- Status of proposal
- The FFE plans were quickly shelved after backlash.
- Disciplinary issue
- The SFV cited the lifting of United States forward Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension during this year’s World Cup.
- Opposition
- UEFA is openly calling for Infantino’s removal.
- Remaining support
- Saudi Arabia, CAF and CONMEBOL continue to support Infantino.