The Swiss Football Association (SFV) has pulled its support for Gianni Infantino's attempt to secure another term as Fifa president, marking a significant setback for the longtime governing body chief in his own homeland.
Infantino, who hails from the Alpine town of Brig in Switzerland's Valais canton, had previously received the SFV's backing in June. However, the association's executive committee met this week and voted to reverse that endorsement, citing mounting concerns about how Fifa is being run under his leadership.
In a statement announcing the decision, the SFV explained that the reversal came "following a comprehensive reassessment of developments over the past few months." The association added that recent events at Fifa have prompted serious doubts about "leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making processes" within the organization.
Infantino's push for re-election, with voting scheduled for March, has run into increasing resistance in recent months. Much of that opposition stems from revelations in July that he had been exploring the possibility of selling off a stake in Fifa's commercial tournament rights, including those tied to the World Cup itself. The plan triggered a fierce backlash from stakeholders across the football world, forcing Infantino to abandon the proposal almost as quickly as it had surfaced.
The SFV's move adds Switzerland to a growing list of national federations distancing themselves from Infantino ahead of the vote. Football associations in England, Wales, France and Serbia, among others, have already rescinded their support in recent months. Meanwhile, Uefa has signaled its intention to field an alternative candidate to challenge Infantino before nominations close in November, setting up a potentially contentious presidential race.
Infantino has held the top job at Fifa since 2016, but his tenure has increasingly come under scrutiny, with various parties within the sport calling for sweeping reforms—and some demanding he step down altogether. Earlier this month, in a letter addressed to Fifa's member associations, Infantino indicated a willingness to engage in discussions about potential changes to the organization. Despite this overture, the SFV made clear that it did not consider the response adequate.
According to the association, critical issues surrounding Fifa's accountability structures and internal decision-making remain unresolved. "As these have not been convincingly clarified, we cannot justify continuing to support Gianni Infantino's candidacy," the SFV said in its statement, effectively closing the door on backing its native son for another term at the helm of world football's governing body.
The development represents a symbolic blow for Infantino, given that Fifa's headquarters are based in Zurich and the president himself grew up in Switzerland. Losing the support of his own country's football federation could complicate his re-election campaign as he seeks to shore up votes from member associations around the globe ahead of the March ballot.
With Uefa preparing to put forward a rival candidate and several major European federations having already withdrawn their backing, Infantino now faces a considerably more challenging path to securing another term than many had anticipated earlier this year. How the situation develops over the coming months, particularly regarding any reforms he might propose in response to the criticism, could prove decisive in determining the outcome of the election.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.