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#England #set #withdraw #support #Infantino #reelection #FIFA #Serbia #Wales">England set to withdraw support for Infantino re-election at FIFA following Serbia, Wales England’s Football Association will join Wales and Serbia in withdrawing support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday, as the backlash against his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup intensified.
FIFA’s plan to unlock up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling a roughly 20% stake in a new entity overseeing competitions including the World Cup ended in retreat on Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders. With the idea abandoned, attention has now turned to the potential repercussions for Infantino, whose bid for another term as FIFA president from 2027 to 2031 faces increased scrutiny following the failed initiative.
Earlier, Wales became the first national federation to formally withdraw its support for Infantino, followed by Serbian FA on Monday.
“The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr. Gianni Infantino, for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027 to 2031 term,” the Welsh FA said in a statement.
“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 Serbian FA said, “We remind you that we provided written support to Mr. Infantino on May 25 of this year, but after carefully assessing the events that have seriously damaged the reputation and credibility of both FIFA and its president in the recent period, this is the only logical and rational step.
“The Football Association of Serbia believes that the future of world football must be based on transparency, dialogue, mutual respect, and a partnership among all confederations and national associations.”
Reuters has contacted FIFA for comment.
INFANTINO UNDER PRESSURE
Infantino is under unprecedented pressure after regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF said on Saturday they had lost confidence in his leadership.
European football’s governing body, which led the backlash to Infantino’s plans and welcomed the decision to scrap them, did not confirm media reports that it was preparing to take legal action against FIFA over the issue.
UEFA said it had sent a document preservation order, which stops the destruction of emails, files, or data when an investigation is expected.
Infantino said in April that he intended to seek re-election for a fourth term as FIFA chief. Since taking over from his Swiss compatriot Sepp Blatter in 2016, Infantino has been re-elected unopposed twice.
While his re-election for the 2027 to 2031 term had appeared a formality, experts told Reuters the fallout from the failed proposal exposed dissatisfaction among FIFA members and could complicate his path before the Congress in Morocco in March.
Published on Aug 03, 2026
England’s Football Association will join Wales and Serbia in withdrawing support for FIFA president Gianni…
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#UEFA #president #Ceferin #understand #refereeing #decisions">UEFA president Ceferin ‘can’t understand’ many refereeing decisions
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday that he often struggles to understand the interpretation of the rules of football since the implementation of VAR.
“Sometimes the supporters can’t understand some interpretations of the rules. I can’t understand it many times,” Ceferin said during a conference in Madrid.
“For example, the handball, nobody understands it. Is it a penalty? Is it not a penalty? Nobody knows. It was intentional, how do you know? You’re not a psychiatrist.”
The head of the governing body of European football also bemoaned the length of time some VAR interventions take on the pitch.
“We try to explain to the referees that the referee on the pitch is the one that decides,” Ceferin said.
“And only if it’s a clear and obvious mistake, you intervene. And even interventions should be fast, not just in Spanish league. I saw it in Premier League, sometimes 10-15 minutes of watching something.”
He also called for a greater harmonisation of the interpretation of the rules across Europe’s different domestic leagues.
“I see that sometimes referees who are refereeing on the European level are refereeing differently than in their own leagues,” the Slovenian said.
“Because they have different referee bosses in the leagues. So I think we should, because it’s one game and it should be the same way.”
Ceferin added that the best way to avoid mistakes was to “strictly try to obey” the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday that he often struggles to understand the interpretation of the rules of football since the implementation of VAR.
“Sometimes the supporters can’t understand some interpretations of the rules. I can’t understand it many times,” Ceferin said during a conference in Madrid.
“For example, the handball, nobody understands it. Is it a penalty? Is it not a penalty? Nobody knows. It was intentional, how do you know? You’re not a psychiatrist.”
The head of the governing body of European football also bemoaned the length of time some VAR interventions take on the pitch.
“We try to explain to the referees that the referee on the pitch is the one that decides,” Ceferin said.
“And only if it’s a clear and obvious mistake, you intervene. And even interventions should be fast, not just in Spanish league. I saw it in Premier League, sometimes 10-15 minutes of watching something.”
He also called for a greater harmonisation of the interpretation of the rules across Europe’s different domestic leagues.
“I see that sometimes referees who are refereeing on the European level are refereeing differently than in their own leagues,” the Slovenian said.
“Because they have different referee bosses in the leagues. So I think we should, because it’s one game and it should be the same way.”
Ceferin added that the best way to avoid mistakes was to “strictly try to obey” the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday that he often struggles to understand the interpretation of…