Gianni Infantino Faces Growing Opposition from Irish Football Associations

The walls are closing in on Gianni Infantino.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has formally withdrawn its backing for the under-pressure Fifa president, becoming the latest European association to break ranks, while the Irish Football Association (IFA) in Northern Ireland has lined up behind Uefa’s increasingly hostile stance.

Irish support crumbles

Infantino’s grip on a fourth term at the top of world football has looked fragile since his controversial attempt to sell a stake in Fifa’s commercial operations to a private investment company. The plan has now been scrapped, but the damage is done.

On Monday, Uefa, along with Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, signed a stinging open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception”. That intervention shifted the mood across the game’s political landscape.

The Welsh FA were the first of the home nations to move, withdrawing support last week. The English FA followed days later. Now the FAI has joined them.

In a statement, the FAI confirmed it has written to Fifa to rescind the earlier letter of support it had issued before the post-World Cup storm erupted.

“Following an FAI board meeting, the decision was taken to rescind the letter of support that the Association supplied earlier this year,” it said.

The governing body for football in the Republic of Ireland stressed that while it values Fifa’s backing for the domestic game, the recent saga has crossed a line.

“The Association is grateful for the support that Fifa provides to Irish football, but recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.

“Considering the governance challenges that the FAI has had to overcome in recent years, the Association feels a particular obligation to advocate for and uphold best practice.”

For an organisation still rebuilding its own credibility after years of internal turmoil, the message is clear: it cannot be seen to ignore governance concerns at the very top of the sport.

Northern Ireland backs Uefa line

North of the border, the IFA has stopped short of formally withdrawing its support for Infantino, but it has nailed its colours to Uefa’s mast.

“We take our responsibilities as a member association of both Uefa and Fifa seriously,” an IFA spokesperson said.

“We support the current Uefa position on the matter and will continue to engage constructively on issues relating to football governance.

“We are of course aware of the recent developments and wider concerns within the football community. We are considering these matters carefully and will continue to engage through the appropriate governance structures and channels.

“At this stage, we have no further comment.”

The wording is cautious, but the direction of travel is unmistakable. As more European associations distance themselves from Infantino, the question is no longer who will speak out — it is how long the Fifa president can withstand the growing revolt.