The Irish FA (FAI) has withdrawn its letter of support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, citing concerns over governance and transparency, adding to mounting pressure on the FIFA chief.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, the FAI said: "Following an FAI Board Meeting, the decision was taken to rescind the letter of support that the Association supplied earlier this year. It has since written to Fifa to explain its reasoning."
The statement continued: "The Association is grateful for the support that Fifa provides to Irish football, but recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.
"Considering the governance challenges that the FAI has had to overcome in recent years, the Association feels a particular obligation to advocate for and uphold best practice."
Home Nations Follow Suit
Last week, the Welsh FA became the first of the home nations' governing bodies to withdraw support for Infantino, with the English FA following suit. These moves come after the FIFA president's attempt to sell stakes in the organisation's commercial operations to private investors, a plan that would impact the World Cup.
UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation accused Infantino of breaking trust 'through deception' in an open letter published on Monday.
Northern Ireland's Stance
Northern Ireland's IFA has acknowledged the "wider concerns" raised within football regarding Infantino but has not yet withdrawn its support, while backing UEFA's position.
An IFA spokesperson said: "We take our responsibilities as a member association of both Uefa and Fifa seriously. We support the current Uefa position on the matter and will continue to engage constructively on issues relating to football governance.
"We are of course aware of the recent developments and wider concerns within the football community. We are considering these matters carefully and will continue to engage through the appropriate governance structures and channels. At this stage, we have no further comment."
