Six European football associations withdraw support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Monday 24 August 2026 - 13:47

By: Azzat Manal

Six European football associations withdraw support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Football associations from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and the Faroe Islands have announced that they no longer have confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino, adding to growing criticism of the governing body's leadership.

The six associations issued a joint statement following a meeting of their representatives in Helsinki, Finland. They criticized aspects of FIFA's governance and expressed their support for UEFA and initiatives promoted by European football organizations.

The associations called for legally binding guarantees to prevent FIFA from transferring the management of the organization or the hosting of its major competitions to private entities in the future.

They also demanded an independent and comprehensive review of FIFA's governance structure. According to the Nordic associations, such an assessment should examine whether the organization meets appropriate standards of independence, transparency and accountability, while ensuring effective checks and balances in its decision-making processes.

The statement reflects wider concerns within parts of European football about the direction taken by FIFA under Infantino. Questions have previously been raised over proposals involving the commercial management and hosting of major international competitions, as well as the possibility of involving private investors more directly in FIFA-related activities.

The disagreement comes at a sensitive moment for international football governance, as FIFA continues to expand its competitions and commercial activities while attempting to balance the interests of national associations, continental confederations, clubs, players and commercial partners.

The six European associations' decision does not immediately change FIFA's leadership, but it represents a significant political signal from a group of influential European football organizations. Their call for greater transparency and independent oversight could also contribute to a broader debate over how global football should be governed.

The dispute highlights the growing importance of relations between FIFA and UEFA, particularly as European associations seek stronger safeguards over the governance of international competitions and the commercial decisions affecting the sport.