FIFA in Turmoil: Infantino's Leadership Crumbles as Nations Turn Away
The global football body FIFA is facing a storm of dissent as more national federations and officials abandon President Gianni Infantino, following the departure of Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour. One FIFA vice-president has called the exit the “final straw” in a crisis that threatens Infantino's bid for a fourth term.
Lamour left the organisation on Monday, weeks after publicly criticising Infantino's controversial plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. His dismissal has ignited a wave of defections, with Hungary's Sandor Csanyi, a FIFA vice-president and Council member, withdrawing his support in a sharply worded letter.
“The final straw was the unexpected dismissal of Kevin Lamour,” Csanyi wrote, as reported by Reuters. “Kevin performed his duties to a high professional and ethical standard and, as a highly competent executive, made a significant contribution to the transparent operation of the organisation. The fact that his dismissal was prompted by his criticism of the above-mentioned initiative, an initiative that you yourself ultimately acknowledged to have been misguided, points to serious shortcomings in professional judgement, ethical standards and leadership.”
FIFA has not responded to requests for comment on the matter. Lamour had earlier stated that staff had been “deceived” over the plan, which he described as the project of one person.
Which FIFA officials have turned against Infantino?
Csanyi joins a growing list of FIFA vice-presidents who have condemned Infantino's conduct, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, and Concacaf President Vittorio Montagliani. Montenegro's Dejan Savicevic, a FIFA Council member since 2017, has also withdrawn his earlier letter of support for Infantino's candidacy.
Savicevic wrote to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, expressing deep concern over the organisation's direction. “The recent developments within FIFA are extremely worrying and have shown serious lack of communication and transparency not only to the member associations but also to the internal members, FIFA Council included, and structures which should hold the foundations of FIFA,” he wrote. “The proposals put forward exposed concerning vulnerabilities regarding governance, not only at political level but also within the FIFA administration. The Football Association of Montenegro agrees with the opinion of other European national associations and UEFA and demands a thorough review of the actions of the FIFA leadership.”
How are national federations responding to the crisis?
Israel has also withdrawn its support for Infantino's reelection, with the decision taken unanimously after a meeting of the IFA's board, according to the Guardian. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) had already become the first national federation to formally withdraw its support earlier this month. FAW chief executive Noel Mooney told the BBC that Infantino should resign after his doomed proposal to “sell off the crown jewels” to private equity investors.
Infantino is up for reelection in March as he seeks a fourth term until 2031. Despite the opposition from three confederations, the African confederation CAF and South America's Conmebol remain on his side. CAF President Patrice Motsepe, also a FIFA vice-president, has warned that any attempt to remove Infantino should be decided democratically by FIFA's 211 member associations at next year's elections, rather than through other means.
What does this mean for the future of FIFA?
The growing rebellion against Infantino's leadership signals a critical juncture for world football's governing body. With key figures across Europe, Asia, and beyond calling for accountability, the coming months will test the resilience of FIFA's institutional framework. As the March elections approach, the question remains whether Infantino can weather this storm or whether the calls for change will reshape the organisation's leadership landscape.