CARDIFF - Wales has become the first nation to publicly withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino's bid to remain FIFA President for the 2027–2031 term.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced that it had officially withdrawn its backing for Infantino's re-election campaign following what it described as a loss of confidence in his leadership.
The decision comes after Infantino abandoned controversial plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment firms, a proposal that sparked widespread criticism within the global football community.
In a statement, the FAW said it had withdrawn "its support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president for the 2027-2031 term."
The association said recent failures in governance, leadership, decision-making, stakeholder management, communication and overall judgement had eroded its confidence in Infantino's ability to continue leading world football.
"The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football," the statement said.
"Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept."
Infantino's proposal had prompted strong opposition from European football's governing body, UEFA, which warned it could boycott FIFA competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
UEFA and Concacaf, the governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, also issued statements criticising FIFA's leadership following the withdrawal of the investment proposal.
Source: BBC