Gianni Infantino's grip on the Fifa presidency has weakened further after Israel became the latest member federation to publicly retract its backing for his re-election, deepening a governance crisis that shows no sign of easing.
The Israel Football Association (IFA) confirmed its decision in a letter sent by its head, Moshe Zuares, marking a significant setback for Infantino given his repeated efforts to use football diplomacy to ease tensions between Israel and Palestine. The IFA, a Uefa member since 1994, joins England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland among European federations that have pulled their support from the Fifa chief.
In his letter, Zuares described the fallout from recent events as having caused an "unprecedented crisis of confidence" between Uefa's and Fifa's approaches to governing the sport. He characterized the rift as "profound, substantive, and principled," saying it demands that all stakeholders reassess their positions. The IFA board reportedly reached its decision unanimously, with Zuares writing: "We have no choice but to retract our previous letter of support, in the sincere hope that fruitful dialogue among all parties will eventually restore a shared, proper vision and direction for world football."
The timing of Israel's move is notable. Infantino has invested considerable effort in bringing Israeli and Palestinian football closer together, including staging a photo opportunity with both delegations at Fifa's congress in Vancouver in April—an attempt that fell flat when Palestinian Football Federation president Jibril Rajoub declined to stand beside IFA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman. Despite that snub, Infantino has continued pushing for the two nations to face off in the opening match of a new under-15 tournament in the United States next month.
Israel's withdrawal comes just a day after news broke that Fifa had dismissed its chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, following his public criticism of Infantino's controversial plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup—known as the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal. Lamour had seemingly anticipated the consequences of speaking out. In a statement issued on 31 July, he said: "If that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight."
His departure has provoked strong condemnation from within Uefa's leadership. Laura McAllister, a Uefa vice-president and former Wales Women international who worked alongside Lamour before his 2024 move to Fifa, said his sacking "sends a deeply troubling message" and undermines any credibility Fifa might claim in reforming itself after the scandal surrounding the enterprise scheme.
"During the shabby events of the past weeks, he showed himself to be a courageous advocate for the most important stakeholders in football," McAllister said, adding that Lamour's removal "seriously weakens Fifa's administration, while undermining this unique opportunity to shift the culture at Fifa and to reset the organisation on sporting values, not simply commercial and financial ones." She went further, insisting that "Fifa is not the president, it is the whole football family," and called for leaders willing to challenge authority and defend the game's core principles.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from top-flight football administrators. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told the BBC that Infantino had effectively triggered his own downfall through the mishandled World Cup investment scheme. "This is a problem of Fifa's making... The organisation has pressed the self-destruct button," Masters said, arguing that Fifa's not-for-profit status means it should never have considered selling a stake in the tournament, but rather "holding that competition in trust for the future of football."
With opposition mounting from multiple fronts, pressure on Infantino appears set to intensify in the coming days.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.