On Wednesday, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) stated it would no longer back Gianni Infantino's bid to retain the FIFA presidency in the upcoming election. A number of prominent European football associations have withdrawn their backing for Infantino, following controversy in July over his plan to establish a commercial arm to oversee FIFA's flagship competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup. The ruling carries relevance given that Infantino holds Swiss nationality, with both FIFA and UEFA headquartered in the country. The SFV announced that its executive board convened on Friday and resolved to rescind the endorsement it had extended in June 2026 for Gianni Infantino to serve an additional term as FIFA president. Under the proposal, private investors would have been permitted to take ownership stakes in a company established through the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative. The opposition that arose prompted the plans to be withdrawn shortly afterwards. The SFV stated that developments over the past several months had prompted fundamental questions about leadership, governance, transparency, and decision-making within football's global governing body. The document referenced Infantino's FIFA governance proposals and the reinstatement of red-carded American striker Folarin Balogun, whose one-match ban was lifted ahead of the World Cup after a telephone conversation between Infantino and President Donald Trump. The SFV's Peter Knabel conveyed that Switzerland's football federation anticipated FIFA's leadership would adhere to rigorous standards of openness, accountability, and institutional responsibility. He noted that Infantino's proposal to hold consultations with national federations on reforming FIFA's governance conveyed a meaningful message and had the potential to bring about improvements. Knabel stated that fundamental questions about background, responsibilities, and decision-making processes had yet to be adequately addressed, and that UEFA — the continental body representing nations including Spain, France, England, and Germany — had therefore withdrawn its backing for Gianni Infantino's candidacy and was openly calling for his replacement. The SFV, a UEFA affiliate, clarified that its resolution did not represent a departure from productive engagement within FIFA and the broader football world. The SFV, as the governing body for the nation hosting both FIFA and UEFA, stated that it acknowledges a particular duty to uphold transparency, reliable structures, and decision-making processes grounded in established rules. The statement urged the worldwide football community to operate with transparency and act in a unified manner. Infantino continues to hold the backing of Saudi Arabia, the host nation for the 2034 World Cup, along with backing from continental governing bodies CAF in Africa and CONMEBOL in South America. Nominations for the FIFA presidential election, scheduled for next March, are due by 18 November. At present, Infantino stands as the sole declared contender.
