The Irish Football Association has announced it will not vote for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president, marking a significant blow to the incumbent’s bid for a fourth term at the helm of world football’s governing body.
The decision represents a withdrawal of support from the Northern Ireland-based organisation, which is now calling for a change in FIFA’s leadership and direction. “We believe the time has come for change,” the IFA stated in its position on the matter.
Governance Concerns Drive Decision
The IFA’s stance follows mounting criticism of Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell a 21% stake in FIFA’s commercial operations. That plan generated considerable backlash within European football’s hierarchy, with UEFA threatening to boycott the initiative entirely. The proposal ultimately collapsed under the weight of institutional opposition.
The withdrawal of the Irish Football Association’s support adds to growing pressure on Infantino as he seeks to secure backing for another term. The FIFA president has faced increasing scrutiny over governance practices and strategic decisions affecting the global football community.
The Irish Football Association’s public declaration places it among organisations expressing concern about the direction of FIFA under current leadership. The decision underscores deeper divisions within world football over how the sport’s international governing body should be run and what priorities should guide its operations going forward.