Snowball effect: English FA next in line to withdraw support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino

European soccer federations have officially begun their pushback against FIFA, with several associations issuing statements opposing Gianni Infantino’s leadership of world soccer’s governing body.

The Football Association of Wales and the Romanian Football Federation became the first national associations to announce that they are withdrawing their support for Infantino’s bid to remain FIFA president.

Wales’ letter, obtained by The Telegraph, was later confirmed publicly. Romania’s position is also significant because its president, Razvan Burleanu, currently sits on the FIFA Council.

The English FA is also expected to follow suit, according to The Times, making England one of the first major European federations to publicly oppose Infantino’s candidacy.

UEFA’s dispute with FIFA escalates

The moves come after UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, rejected FIFA’s proposed FFE project last week.

Under the proposal, 20% of the World Cup and other FIFA-organized competitions would have been transferred to investment funds.

Following UEFA’s opposition, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, which represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the plan.

UEFA has gone further by threatening possible legal action against FIFA.

“UEFA formally notifies that it is actively considering legal actions, arbitration and/or regulatory complaints arising from and in relation to the proposed FFE plan by FIFA and all related matters,” the organization said in its latest move in the dispute.

Infantino’s reelection bid faces unexpected challenge

The European pushback comes seven months before FIFA’s presidential election, scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

Until recently, Infantino appeared set to win reelection without serious opposition. However, UEFA’s resistance could force a major strategic shift within world soccer.

European officials are reportedly looking for a candidate who could emerge as an alternative to Infantino.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been mentioned as UEFA’s preferred option, although putting together the necessary support for his candidacy could prove complicated.

Another potential challenger is CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, who is considered one of the strongest alternatives to Infantino.

The coming months could determine whether the opposition movement becomes a genuine challenge to FIFA’s leadership or simply a warning shot from soccer’s most powerful confederation.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.