Scottish Football Association withdraws support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election
August 18, 2026 · TaegeukGoal
The Scottish Football Association joined UEFA in withdrawing its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election. Criticism of Infantino's leadership and governance issues is growing.
Scottish Football Association withdraws support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election
BbcAccording to.
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The Scottish Football Association is strengthening its opposition to Infantino's re-election through solidarity with UEFA's 55 member countries. This is expected to have a significant impact on international discussions on FIFA's governance and leadership issues.
Why it's important
The Scottish Football Association's (SFA) decision reflects a lack of trust in FIFA president Gianni Infantino and is linked to widespread criticism of FIFA's governance. Our solidarity with UEFA demonstrates Scottish football's determination to strengthen its influence on the international football scene. These changes could lead to a reconsideration of trust in FIFA's leadership and could affect the SFA's stance on future international competitions.
Key takeaways
- Scottish Football Association withdraws support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election.
- The Scottish Football Association joined UEFA in withdrawing its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election.
- Gianni Infantino: Scottish FA withdraws support for Fifa president - BBC Sport.
He added: “Their statement speaks to a lack of trust in FIFA’s leadership and the Scottish Football Association fully agrees with this decision.” The SFA will not vote for Infantino's re-election in 2027. The Football Associations of England, Wales and Ireland have already announced they have withdrawn their support for Infantino. Infantino is scheduled to run for a fourth term in March. FairSquare argues that Infantino has no right to run for re-election because he is already serving his third term. According to FIFA regulations, a president can only serve three terms in a maximum of 12 years. Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter in 2016, and his term could be extended to 15 years, including the remainder of his term until 2019.
His first re-election was in 2023, and he argued that he could run for re-election in 2022, citing the fact that the 2016-2019 term did not last four years. However, FairSquare emphasizes that Infantino's 15-year term as president clearly violates the purpose of the regulations. In a letter to the FIFA Review Committee, the group argued that the decision clearly violates FIFA's rules on presidential term limits. Last week, UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation sent an open letter to Infantino and FIFA accusing them of "destroying trust through deception". The letter noted that the controversy over the recent FFE proposal was about "the integrity of the game and the integrity of the people leading it," without directly mentioning Infantino. However, according to sources, this is being interpreted as a message that he should be given the opportunity to resign voluntarily. FIFA has promised to present a report on the FFE at its next meeting. However, the three confederations insist that this review be conducted by a fully independent third party. Additionally, UEFA issued a legal warning to FIFA not to delete or destroy any documents related to the FFE. There are currently no candidates running against Infantino, and candidates must file by the November 18 deadline. Among FIFA's 211 member countries, there are confederations in Africa, South America, and Oceania that support Infantino, while opinions are divided within each region, making it difficult to predict the balance of power between Infantino and his opponents. In three weeks' time, the first test of UEFA's threat will come when the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup takes place. The competition will be held in Poland and other European countries, including England, will participate.
future outlook
Infantino is scheduled to run for a fourth term in March. However, a withdrawal of support from the SFA and several European football associations could deal a major blow to his re-election bid, which could lead to significant changes in FIFA's internal politics. Additionally, FIFA has promised an independent review of the FFE, but UEFA and other confederations insist that such review must be conducted fairly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Scottish Football Association withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's re-election?
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino and has announced it will not vote for his re-election.
When will Gianni Infantino be re-elected?
Gianni Infantino will run for a fourth term in March.
What impact does the Scottish Football Association's decision have on FIFA?
The Scottish Football Association's decision reflects a lack of trust in FIFA's leadership and aligns with UEFA's position.
Have other football associations withdrew their support for Infantino?
Yes, the Football Association of England, Wales and Ireland have already announced that they have withdrawn their support for Infantino.
What are FIFA's presidential term limits?
According to FIFA rules, a president can only serve three terms in a maximum of 12 years.
