New Zealand break with OFC to withdraw Infantino support

New Zealand have diverged from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) by ceasing to provide backing for Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Infantino is currently facing disapproval from three football governing bodies - UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Concacaf - following his attempt to sell a portion of the World Cup's financial rights to private investors.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and South American body Conmebol have endorsed Infantino's attempt to secure a fourth term as President at the upcoming Fifa Congress in March. Several individual nations, such as England, Wales, Norway, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, have also announced their refusal to support Infantino's re-election bid.

The New Zealand Football (NZF) organization is now calling for an impartial examination of the development process behind the Fifa Forward Enterprise Scheme (FFE). In a statement, NZF expressed that decisions and actions taken within FIFA have led to a loss of trust and increased fragmentation in international football, suggesting an independent review is necessary to restore confidence and trust.

NZF believes this moment presents an opportunity for all Fifa member associations to advocate for stronger governance, accountability, and transparency, which are essential for the responsible administration of the global game.

New Zealand was the sole member of the OFC's 11 nations to secure a berth in the 2026 Fifa World Cup. New Caledonia, another OFC member, has reiterated its support for Infantino. Concacaf members Mexico, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis have shown dissent towards their federation and have also voiced their backing for Infantino. Argentina is aligned with Conmebol in its support for the 56-year-old.

The NZF Chief Executive, Andrew Pragnell, emphasized the importance of an independent review, stating that they do not wish to witness an internal "quick washover" of the situation. An independent review, as called for by other confederations, could help restore some of the trust, according to Pragnell.

While the OFC welcomed Fifa's decision to withdraw the FFE proposal, it refrained from declaring or withdrawing support for Infantino. The OFC Executive Committee endorsed Fifa's commitment to review the issues surrounding the project and acknowledged the progress made over the last decade in advancing football development in Oceania under Fifa's leadership. The OFC encourages Fifa to utilize the review as an opportunity to identify and implement any necessary changes.