FIFA president faces growing revolt as Irish FA withdraws support ahead of 2027 election

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces mounting opposition to his re-election bid as national football associations and former players publicly withdraw support over his leadership and controversial proposals.

The Irish Football Association announced on Tuesday it would not back Infantino in next year’s presidential election, citing his aborted plan to sell a 21% stake in FIFA’s commercial operations to private investors. The IFA stated the proposal “raises fundamental questions about strategy, governance and stewardship of our assets” and declared, “We believe the time has come for change” . The governing body joins the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, which had previously withdrawn support.

Infantino, 56, has led FIFA for over a decade and is seeking a fourth term in March 2027, which would extend his tenure to 15 years by 2031. His position has weakened in recent months following criticism of his close ties to global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and his attempt to privatize World Cup revenue streams. The plan to invite private investors to buy stakes in future FIFA events was abandoned after widespread backlash, including threats of a boycott by UEFA .

Former players have also joined the calls for change. Mikael Silvestre, Emmanuel Petit and Olivier Dacourt issued a joint statement on Tuesday, asserting that “exercising power has affected the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between personal interests and the supreme good of football.” The declaration, initiated by Silvestre and endorsed by England’s Lucy Bronze, added that “major decisions have been made for too long without consulting players or considering the supporters who keep this sport alive” . The statement did not name Infantino directly but criticized FIFA’s direction.

Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, remains a notable supporter of Infantino, according to reports .

Infantino’s public appearances have drawn mixed reactions. At the Esports World Cup closing ceremony in Paris on Saturday, he joked with Cristiano Ronaldo about the Portuguese star’s pursuit of 1,000 career goals, saying, “You have 23 left, right?” Ronaldo responded with a grimace and eye-roll, a moment widely shared on social media .

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin confirmed on Sunday he would not run for FIFA’s top post but suggested an opponent may emerge against Infantino .