Norway has called on Fifa president Gianni Infantino to resign, citing a lack of institutional trust. This move comes after Infantino's aborted attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Norway Leads Charge for Infantino's Resignation
Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness said that Infantino "does not have the institutional trust required to govern Fifa stably in the times we are in." She added that there is "no going back for Gianni Infantino" and that the international football cooperation is "very much in trouble." The NFF has expressed several concerns to Fifa during Klaveness's four-year tenure, including questions around the awarding of tournaments and the overturning of a ban for American forward Folarin Balogun during the recent World Cup.
Mexico and Argentina Show Support for Infantino
In contrast, Mexico's Football Federation has come out in support of Infantino, praising his leadership in promoting the development of football through institutional strengthening. Argentina's football association has also voiced its support for Infantino, describing his decade-long tenure as Fifa president as "centred on the development of soccer worldwide and institutional strength based on a clear, stable, and transparent governance model." However, this support does not seem to be universal, with Conmebol expressing its concern about the repeated unilateral actions taken by Infantino without resorting to dialogue or the institutional mechanisms provided for dealing with this type of situation.
Uefa and Concacaf Oppose Infantino's Proposal
Uefa, which runs European football, has already said it has lost confidence in Infantino, calling the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal a "shabby, back room, opaque deal." Concacaf, which runs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has also expressed its opposition to Infantino's proposal, describing it as "a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first." However, unlike Uefa, it did not go as far as to say it had lost confidence in the Fifa president.
What's Next for Infantino and Fifa?
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Infantino will step down or face further opposition from European football's governing body, Uefa. The English FA has already sent a letter withdrawing its support for Infantino, while Wales, Albania, and Croatia are among other individual associations to have turned their back on the 56-year-old. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the fate of Infantino's presidency hangs in the balance.
Source: Joy Online
