England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland had already pulled their backing for Gianni Infantino’s re-election before Scotland followed on 17 August. All four moved together, aligned with UEFA’s collective stance rather than acting alone. Three entire confederations have now accused FIFA’s leadership of breaking trust over a scrapped plan to sell a stake in the organisation’s commercial operations to private investors. Not every region has turned, but the list of dissenters keeps growing. UEFA has since raised the prospect of legal action against FIFA’s leadership.

Scotland’s Statement And What Triggered It

The Scottish Football Association confirmed it would not vote for Infantino’s re-election. Chief executive Ian Maxwell said the position was in line with UEFA’s stance, one the SFA had maintained throughout, adding that fifty-five nations carry more weight than one voice.

The trigger was FIFA Forward Enterprise, a plan unveiled in late July to sell roughly a fifth of FIFA’s commercial operations to private investors, including a firm linked to Joshua Kushner. FIFA scrapped the plan within days once the backlash hit, but the damage to trust had already been done. The SFA pointed specifically to a lack of transparency over how the plan was developed.

FIFA Federations Withdrawing Support Infantino

Scotland is not an outlier. It is the fourth British and Irish federation to break away, following England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, and all four have moved in step with UEFA’s collective position rather than acting individually.

The defections reach beyond a handful of national federations. Three entire confederations, UEFA, CONMEBOL and the Asian Football Confederation, have had their presidents and general secretaries sign a joint letter accusing FIFA’s leadership of breaking trust through deception. Some regions have stayed loyal: CAF, most of CONMEBOL’s own members in practice, the Oceania federation, and six Arab associations including Morocco and Qatar continue to back the current leadership.

UEFA’s Legal Threat And Governance Demands

UEFA said on 1 August it had lost confidence in the FIFA president and declared no option was off the table regarding his leadership. Its lawyers followed up days later, telling FIFA they were considering legal action, arbitration or regulatory complaints tied to the scrapped plan, and instructing FIFA to preserve evidence.

All fifty-five UEFA associations had agreed to boycott FIFA competitions, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2030 men’s tournament, until the plan was abandoned entirely and binding guarantees were given against any repeat. A crisis meeting in Morocco produced a reaffirmation of support and an admission of mistakes, but UEFA rejected the response as insufficient.

The Numbers Behind A Possible Revolt

FIFA’s presidential election runs on one member, one vote across 211 associations, regardless of a country’s size. A candidate needs a two-thirds majority in the first round, or 106 votes in a run-off if that threshold is missed. Anyone standing also needs nominations from five member associations before appearing on the ballot.

UEFA’s 55 votes alone cannot remove anyone, but combined with the CONMEBOL and Asian confederation members who signed the joint letter, the arithmetic tightens. The strongest counterweight remains a bloc of 54 African votes pledged for the coming term, meaning any real threat depends on defections spreading well past Europe.

Could This Threaten His Presidency

He is still expected to stand for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in early 2027, and retains defenders, including US President Donald Trump, who has called any removal effort a serious mistake. But the pressure is no longer confined to one region.

The pattern of FIFA federations withdrawing support Infantino has counted on for years now looks fragile: four British and Irish federations have broken ranks individually, three confederations have accused him of deception collectively, UEFA has raised a legal threat, and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has already left. Whether that adds up to enough votes to unseat him depends on whether Africa, the Americas and Asia hold firm, or start to crack.

Do you think Infantino survives to a fourth term, or does this revolt eventually spread beyond Europe? Tell us where you see this going.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is Scotland withdrawing support for Infantino?

The Scottish FA cited a lack of transparency over FIFA’s abandoned plan to sell stakes in commercial rights to private investors. It also aligned its position with UEFA’s collective stance across all 55 member nations.

Which countries have criticised Gianni Infantino?

England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland have all publicly withdrawn support. Three confederations, UEFA, CONMEBOL and the Asian Football Confederation, have also accused him of deception in a joint letter.

Can FIFA members remove Infantino as president?

Only through an election, not a direct vote of no confidence. A challenger needs nominations from five member associations and then 106 of the 211 total votes in a run-off.

What is UEFA’s stance on FIFA’s investor plan?

UEFA opposed the plan from the outset and said it lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership. Its 55 members threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

When is the next FIFA presidential election?

The FIFA Congress is scheduled for early 2027, where the presidential vote will take place. He is expected to stand for a fourth term despite mounting pressure from national federations and entire confederations.