Switzerland’s FA withdraws support for embattled FIFA chief Gianni Infantino
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Switzerland is withdrawing its support for incumbent Gianni Infantino in the 2027 FIFA presidential election.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- The Swiss Football Association has withdrawn its support for FIFA chief Gianni Infantino's 2027 presidential bid due to unresolved concerns about transparency and accountability.
- Infantino faced backlash over plans to create a commercial subsidiary allowing private investors stakes in FIFA’s biggest events, leading to the shelving of the proposals.
- Swiss football officials emphasised the need for clear decision-making and responsibility, stating they cannot justify backing Infantino without satisfactory answers.
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GENEVA - The Swiss Football Association (SFV) announced on Sept 30 that it was withdrawing its support for incumbent Gianni Infantino in 2027’s FIFA presidential election.
Numerous leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino after he caused uproar in July with proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.
The SFV’s decision carries weight as Infantino is Swiss, and both FIFA and European football’s governing body UEFA are based in Switzerland.
The SFV said that its executive board met on Sept 25 and “decided to withdraw the support it had declared in June 2026 for Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for a further term as FIFA president”.
Infantino’s plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative.
The backlash that followed led to the proposals being quickly shelved.
SFV president Peter Knabel said that Swiss football’s governing body expected FIFA’s leadership to uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability and institutional responsibility.
“Key questions regarding the background, responsibilities and decision-making processes remain unanswered. As these have not been convincingly clarified, we cannot justify continuing to support Gianni Infantino’s candidacy,” he said. AFP