Gianni Infantino Faces Growing Revolt from National Football Associations

The walls are closing in on Gianni Infantino.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has become the latest national body to pull its backing for the embattled Fifa president, while the Irish Football Association (IFA) in Northern Ireland has lined up behind Uefa’s hardening stance.

This is no isolated wobble. It is part of a growing revolt.

Ireland breaks ranks

After initially supporting Infantino for a fourth term, the FAI has now formally reversed its position in a letter to Fifa, a move agreed at board level.

“Following an FAI board meeting, the decision was taken to rescind the letter of support that the Association supplied earlier this year,” the association confirmed.

The tone is polite. The message is not.

“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.”

For an organisation that has spent years repairing its own reputation after governance scandals, that line carries real weight. The FAI is effectively saying: we’ve learned our lesson — now Fifa must learn its.

A presidency under siege

Infantino’s position has been rocked by his attempt to sell a stake in Fifa’s commercial operations to a private investment company, a proposal since abandoned but not forgiven.

That plan, and the way it was handled, triggered fury among powerful confederations. On Monday, Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation signed an open letter accusing the Fifa president of breaking trust “through deception”.

The fallout has left his bid for a fourth term at the top of world football in serious jeopardy.

The Welsh FA was the first of the home nations to walk away from supporting him, with the English FA following days later. The FAI’s decision adds another crack in what used to be a solid European backing bloc.

Northern Ireland edges away

Across the border, the IFA has stopped short of formally withdrawing its support, but it has made its alignment clear: it is backing Uefa’s position.

“We take our responsibilities as a member association of both Uefa and Fifa seriously,” an IFA spokesperson said.

“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.”

Measured words, but the direction of travel is obvious. The IFA is moving with Europe, not against it.

A fracture that won’t heal quickly

What began as a row over a commercial deal has become a full-blown crisis of confidence in Fifa’s leadership. The charge sheet is clear: lack of transparency, poor governance, and decisions taken without meaningful consultation.

When associations that have themselves been forced to confront governance failures start invoking “best practice” and “obligation” in public statements, it signals something deeper than routine political manoeuvring.

The question now is not just whether Infantino can cling to a fourth term.

It is whether the world’s most powerful sporting body is willing to be reshaped by those who have finally decided they have had enough.