Gianni Infantino’s campaign for another term as FIFA president has suffered another major setback after Serbia and Sweden announced they were withdrawing their support for his re-election.
The two football associations joined Wales in distancing themselves from the FIFA leader, adding to growing dissatisfaction over the direction of world football’s governing body.
Their decisions come amid increasing scrutiny of FIFA’s leadership and governance following recent controversies.
Failed Investment Plan Fuels Discontent
Much of the criticism stems from FIFA’s decision to abandon plans to sell approximately a 20 percent stake in a newly created commercial company responsible for managing major competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
The proposal was expected to generate as much as $4.2 billion through private investment but was dropped after facing strong resistance from key stakeholders.
The collapse of the initiative has intensified concerns about FIFA’s strategic decision-making and leadership.
Serbia Explains Dramatic Reversal
In a statement, the Football Association of Serbia confirmed it had officially withdrawn the backing it had previously offered Infantino earlier this year.
The federation said it reconsidered its position after recent developments that it believes have seriously damaged both FIFA’s reputation and that of its president.
According to the association, continuing its support was no longer a reasonable option given the events surrounding the organization.
Sweden Cites Governance Concerns
Sweden’s Football Association also announced that its executive board had voted to withdraw its endorsement following an extraordinary meeting.
Officials said the decision followed a lengthy review of FIFA’s leadership, pointing to repeated concerns over governance, transparency, and overall management.
The association concluded that confidence in Infantino’s leadership had been lost, making continued support impossible.
Wales Leads Growing Opposition
Earlier, Wales became the first national football association to publicly revoke its endorsement of Infantino’s re-election bid.
The move signaled a shift in sentiment among FIFA’s member associations and has encouraged broader debate about the organization’s future leadership.
Reports also suggest that England’s Football Association could soon take a similar position, potentially adding further pressure on the incumbent president.
FIFA Faces Increasing Questions Over Leadership
The growing list of associations distancing themselves from Infantino reflects wider concerns about FIFA’s governance at a crucial time for the organization.
What began as opposition to a controversial commercial proposal has evolved into broader criticism of transparency, accountability, and decision-making within football’s global governing body.
With more national associations reassessing their positions, Infantino’s path toward another term appears increasingly uncertain as scrutiny of FIFA’s leadership continues to intensify.
