Wales become first nation to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino re-election as FIFA president - days after his plan to sell the World Cup was scuppered

Wales have stuck their head above the parapet and become the first nation to explicitly stand against Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president.Infantino's future is under intense scrutiny after his plans to sell a £3.1billion stake in the World Cup to private investors were revealed by The Times. Those plans have since been opposed by UEFA, the North, Central America and Caribbean confederation (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), leading Infantino to abandon them.But as of July, Infantino had reportedly been endorsed by almost all of FIFA's 211 member associations for re-election. Candidates must be put forward by November 18 and the vote will take place at FIFA's congress in March. 'The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr. Gianni Infantino, for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027–2031 term,' a statement reads. 'The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr. Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football. Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.'Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 after replacing Sepp Blatter and will be standing for the chance to have a fourth term in charge. But the events of recent days - and the controversies that blighted him before and during the World Cup - have rocked his authority. His plans have been widely lambasted, including by prime minister Andy Burnham, and two of his closest allies have resigned. Firstly his senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro stepped down, and then chief operating officer Kevin Lamour. UEFA and CONCACAF have called on Infantino to quit but their ploy to depose the Swiss football administrator has hit a roadblock after Kuwait, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Lebanon reiterated their confidence in his leadership.UEFA and CONCACAF make up 90 of FIFA's 211 member associations. Although that is above the 20 per cent threshold to trigger a vote of no confidence, it falls short of the majority needed to topple Infantino.With Infantino retaining support from Africa while South America are expected to take the same position, AFC members would be required to oust the FIFA president.New Zealand could join Europe and CONCACAF's resistance, but it is doubtful that the remaining 10 members of the Oceania Football Confederation would follow suit.Infantino wrote to all FIFA nations claiming they would receive £30million if they back his plan to sell off stakes in FIFA's major competitions. The specific proposal was to sell stakes in the tournament to a group led by Josh Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared. In that light, Infantino's sycophantic behaviour towards Trump - including handing him the inaugural FIFA Peace Price - looks even more suspect. UEFA welcomed Infantino's abandonment of his plans, writing: 'UEFA welcomes FIFA's decision to withdraw its plan to sell a stake in its competitions - including the World Cup - into private hands.'The proposal was unanimously rejected by UEFA's national associations and by many other federations and confederations of all sizes around the world, whose job it is to protect football.'We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast-track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.'It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.'That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.'The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through was anything but transparent. This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun.'Countless European nations, including England, Wales, the Netherlands and Norway, endorsed the statement.A spokeswoman for the English FA added: 'We fully support UEFA's position. It is time for a full and robust review of FIFA's leadership and governance to ensure that the global game is run transparently, for the benefit of all 211 member nations and with the long-term stewardship of football at its heart.'CONCACAF, as they have all week, followed suit: 'CONCACAF and its 41 Member Associations welcome the withdrawal of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).'The Confederation also commends its 41 Member Associations and the wider football family for the courage and unity they have shown this week.'At a moment that demanded principled leadership, our members stood together in defence of football's long-term interests and the principles of good governance. That unity has prevailed.'A proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident. It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first.'This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour. A full review of this leadership must now take place.'This concern is not CONCACAF's alone. It is shared across many confederations, Member Associations and those who serve and love the game.'When people entrusted with protecting the game conclude they can no longer do so from within, the football family is entitled to ask how such a proposal was allowed to proceed, and who bears responsibility for it.'More to follow.