The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has formally withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA President, becoming the first national football association to do so.
The decision follows Infantino's plans to create a private company, open to investment, to run FIFA's headline competitions such as the World Cup and raise billions of pounds for the organisation. Even after cancelling the project, which was to be led by a close ally of Donald Trump, Infantino's position looks tenuous.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described Infantino as "the wrong man" to lead FIFA, while the FAW has also backed a boycott of FIFA competitions organised by UEFA. CONCACAF, the North American counterpart of UEFA, criticised the plans, and key Infantino advisers resigned in protest.
FAW confirms withdrawal
In a statement to Sky News, the FAW said: "It hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino, for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027-2031 term."
"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."
"Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept. The Football Association of Wales has written to FIFA to inform them of their position."
Other British football associations have yet to follow suit, but all approved the UEFA boycott. Infantino, who is Italian, is due for re-election in March, and his future at the top of world football looks in doubt after the latest scandal.
