The Swiss Football Federation withdraws its support for Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for the FIFA presidency

The Swiss Football Federation (SFV) withdrew on Wednesday its support, granted in June, for Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for a new term as FIFA president in 2027. The decision comes amid mounting criticism of the world governing body’s leadership and opposition from several federations and confederations.

The SFV Executive Committee announced that it had made the decision following an analysis of developments in recent months. Infantino has come under pressure after three continental confederations rejected a plan to establish a company to manage the commercial rights to FIFA competitions and sell 20% of its shares to private investors. The FIFA president subsequently abandoned the project.

The criticism was intensified by the presentation of the FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump and by the decision to suspend American forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup. Bundesliga president Hans-Joachim Watzke recently called for Infantino’s resignation, arguing that his “system” must come to an end.

Federations from France, Italy, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries have also spoken out against Infantino. UEFA is trying to prevent his re-election, but he retains the support of some confederations after the number of teams participating in the World Cup was expanded.