It’s getting messy at the top of world football. Another big hitter has just turned its back on Gianni Infantino.

In a chatty but damning statement on Wednesday, Italy’s football federation, the FIGC, confirmed it has officially withdrawn its support for the embattled FIFA President, reports cbinews.tv.

And they didn’t mince their words.

According to the FIGC, the decision is intended “to clearly and transparently express the FIGC’s position… regarding the recent initiatives promoted by the FIFA president concerning the governance and development of international competitions.”

Translation? They’ve had enough.

Why is everyone turning on Infantino now?

This is all about his now-abandoned plan to flog off stakes in FIFA competitions — including the crown jewel itself, the World Cup — to private investors. The controversial scheme, dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was meant to bring in billions in private equity but was seen by many as selling football’s soul.

The backlash has been swift and brutal.

Italy now joins a growing European revolt. As we’ve seen in recent days, Wales became the first association to formally pull the plug, followed quickly by moves from England, Ireland and others. The English FA is reportedly preparing a formal letter to withdraw its backing too, while UEFA itself has said it has “lost confidence” in Infantino and even threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions.

FIGC President Giovanni Malagò made it clear where Italy stands, saying: “We will continue to work alongside UEFA and the other European associations to promote an idea of football based on merit and sustainability, putting fans at the centre.”

He added that the federation identifies with a model of “dialogue, listening and shared responsibility” — a not-so-subtle dig at Infantino’s top-down approach.

Some quick context for you:

This is a huge U-turn. Remember, Infantino, 56, is a former UEFA secretary general who had the broad backing of Europe when he succeeded the disgraced Sepp Blatter as FIFA President in 2016. Back then, he was the clean-hands reformer after the FIFAgate corruption scandal that ended Blatter’s 17-year reign.

He won unopposed in 2019 and again in 2023. But his third term bid, due to be decided at the FIFA Congress in March 2027, is now looking seriously shaky.

Under his watch, FIFA’s revenues have soared — the 2022-2026 cycle is projected to hit over $11 billion — but critics say he’s centralised power, expanded tournaments beyond recognition (48-team World Cup from 2026, expanded Club World Cup), and increasingly clashed with UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin, once a close ally.

Italy’s move is symbolically massive. This is a four-time World Cup winner, a founding pillar of UEFA, and the home nation of Infantino himself, who holds dual Swiss-Italian nationality. If he’s lost Italy, who’s left?

For now, Infantino still has vocal backers — reports suggest Africa, Argentina and Mexico have reaffirmed support — but the European bloc, which controls 55 of FIFA’s 211 votes, is crumbling fast.

One thing is for sure: the road to March 2027 just got a lot bumpier.

Source: cbinews.tv

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