The Swiss Football Association (SFV) has officially announced it is withdrawing its support for incumbent Gianni Infantino in next year’s FIFA presidential election. This decision marks a significant shift, as the SFV had previously endorsed his candidacy in June 2026. The SFV confirmed that its executive board met last Friday and formally “decided to withdraw the support it had declared in June 2026 for Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for a further term as FIFA president.”
Context of the withdrawal
- The move follows a wave of withdrawals from other major European national associations after Infantino proposed selling stakes in FIFA competitions—including the World Cup and Club World Cup—to private investors.
- These plans, tied to the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative, faced intense backlash and were ultimately shelved.
- The SFV’s decision is considered particularly symbolic, as both FIFA and UEFA are headquartered in Switzerland, and Infantino is a Swiss national.
Leadership accountability
SFV president Peter Knabel emphasized that the governing body demands the highest standards of transparency and institutional responsibility from FIFA’s leadership. Regarding the lack of clarity on internal processes, Knabel stated, “Key questions regarding the background, responsibilities and decision-making processes remain unanswered.” He added, “As these have not been convincingly clarified, we cannot justify continuing to support Gianni Infantino’s candidacy.”
