Northern Ireland’s IFA Joins Growing Revolt Against FIFA President Gianni Infantino
The Irish Football Association (IFA), the governing body for football in Northern Ireland, has become the latest national association to withdraw its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, declaring that it is “time for change” at football’s global governing body and confirming it will not support his re-election bid next year.
The IFA had previously aligned itself with UEFA’s broader stance on the matter without formally rescinding its support for Infantino, but has now stated that his controversial plan raised fundamental questions about his leadership. In a statement, the association said the proposal to sell part of FIFA’s commercial assets to a private equity firm without proper consultation represented more than a simple failure of communication, describing it as a matter that raises serious concerns about strategy, governance, and stewardship of the organisation’s assets.
The IFA’s move follows a similar decision by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), which governs football in the Republic of Ireland, to formally rescind the letter of support it had earlier submitted on Infantino’s behalf. In its own statement, the FAI said it remained grateful for the support FIFA provides to Irish football but noted that recent events had raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency, and a lack of meaningful consultation with member associations. The FAI added that, given the governance challenges it has had to navigate in recent years, it felt a particular obligation to advocate for and uphold best practice within the sport.
Infantino has faced escalating pressure since the collapse of his proposal to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial operations, including rights linked to the World Cup, to a private equity firm. The plan was abandoned following widespread criticism, but the fallout has continued to erode his standing among member associations. England and Wales have already written to FIFA to formally withdraw their support for his re-election bid, with a growing number of other national federations following suit in recent weeks.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has been among the most vocal critics, reportedly urging Infantino to step down rather than contest re-election amid the ongoing controversy. UEFA has also held preliminary talks with football’s other continental confederations, including CONCACAF, over a possible expansion of the Nations League that could involve teams from outside Europe, a development seen as a further sign of continental bodies coordinating initiatives independent of FIFA.
Not all federations have turned against Infantino, however, with countries including Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, and Mauritania publicly reaffirming their backing for the FIFA president. Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe has also pushed back against calls for Infantino to resign outright, insisting that any move to remove him from office must go through FIFA’s formal electoral process rather than pressure from rival associations.
With the deadline for alternative candidates to enter the FIFA presidential race set for November 18 and the election itself scheduled for March next year, the growing wave of withdrawn endorsements from European associations signals a deepening rift within football’s governing body as Infantino’s hold on the presidency continues to face mounting scrutiny.
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