Football Association of Ireland withdraws Infantino support

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has officially withdrawn its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, while the Irish Football Association has confirmed its backing of Uefa's stance. Uefa signed an open letter alongside Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, accusing Infantino of breaking trust through deception.

This move comes after Infantino attempted to sell a stake in Fifa's commercial operations, which has caused turmoil in his bid for a fourth term as Fifa president. The Welsh FA was the first to follow suit, withdrawing its support last week. The FAI, governing body for football in the Republic of Ireland, sent a letter to Fifa withdrawing its support following a board meeting, explaining its decision in a subsequent communication.

The Association decries recent governance, transparency issues, and a lack of meaningful consultation, emphasizing its responsibility to advocate for best practices. Northern Ireland's body, the IFA, while not formally withdrawing support, supports Uefa's stance. The IFA spokesperson stated that they take their responsibilities as a member association of both Uefa and Fifa seriously and will engage constructively on football governance issues.