Gianni Infantino Facing Mounting Resignation Calls

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing an escalating rebellion across global football following a scrapped attempt to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors via a subsidiary named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

While European federations lead the push for his removal, major governing bodies in Africa and parts of Latin America have rallied behind the 56-year-old president.

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) became the latest European body to openly demand Infantino's departure, going further than the football associations of England, Wales, Croatia, and Albania, which have withdrawn their backing without explicitly demanding a resignation.

NFF president Lise Klaveness expressed strong frustration with Infantino's management history, citing contentious venue selections and political interventions.

"He [Infantino] does not have the institutional trust required to govern Fifa stably in the times we are in," Klaveness declared, adding:

"There is no going back for Gianni Infantino. The international football cooperation is very much in trouble, and we must have a reason to get together now, and we want to ask the Fifa president to resign now."

"We will see which other countries eventually join in, if that becomes the strategy from the Uefa board. We are not going to ask for an extraordinary [Uefa board] meeting, we will ask him to resign in our dialogue with Fifa."

UEFA reiterated its threat to boycott future FIFA tournaments, calling Infantino's proposal a "shabby, back room, opaque deal". Responding to FIFA's internal expressions of support, UEFA stated:

"Uefa made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds. Yesterday's announcement that some people employed by the Fifa president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing. Assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again. These conditions have not been met."

Player unions have also stepped in. FIFPRO condemned what it labeled a "cover-up" and stated it noted FIFA's statements "with deep concern", insisting FIFA could not "restore confidence" because it had "dismantled the conditions upon which confidence depends". Meanwhile, England international Lucy Bronze confirmed support for a potential boycott, noting that "for the good of the game", players are prepared to take a stand to protect future generations.

Support Rallies in Africa and the Americas

Despite widespread European opposition and sharp criticism from CONCACAF, which called the plan "a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first", Infantino retains significant backing elsewhere.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously reaffirmed its allegiance. CAF president Patrice Motsepe praised Infantino's long-standing dedication to the region:

"The CAF EXCO unanimously reconfirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football over the years,"

Motsepe noted, previously stating:

"I personally support Gianni Infantino. He's not just a good friend. He's a loyal friend. He's loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back."

Breaking ranks with CONCACAF, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) backed Infantino, while Argentina's Football Association praised his decade-long leadership as being "centred on the development of soccer worldwide and institutional strength based on a clear, stable, and transparent governance model".

What Happens Next?

Removing an incumbent FIFA president requires significant voting power across its 211 member associations. Opponents need 20% of member nations (43 associations) to trigger an Emergency FIFA Congress, where a majority of 106 votes is required to pass a motion of no confidence. Alternatively, 9 of the 37 FIFA Council members could force an emergency meeting.

For now, Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom have issued written joint statements stating they "sincerely apologised for the errors" in handling the FFE proposal. While Infantino has retained his position following internal board backing, intense political maneuvering ahead of the upcoming presidential vote in March 2027 continues to split world football.