Swiss Football Association pulls support for Infantino after investor plan

On Wednesday the 30th, the Federação Suíça de Futebol announced it was withdrawing the symbolic backing it had given in June to Gianni Infantino, the incumbent FIFA President, as he seeks re‑election for the 2023‑2027 term. The decision marks the first time his home federation has publicly turned against him during the campaign.

June support rescinded

The central committee of the Associação Suíça de Futebol said it had reconsidered the support offered in June 2026 after a “deep review of recent developments”. It cited a crisis triggered by Infantino’s failed attempt to open FIFA to private investors, a move that sparked strong opposition across Europe.

Failed private‑investor scheme

Infantino’s August launch of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project proposed placing World Cup revenues into a company open to private capital. The proposal provoked a wave of protests and was ultimately abandoned, reinforcing concerns about governance and transparency at Fifa.

Additional controversies

Further controversy arose from the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, where his automatic ban for the next match was commuted after US President Donald Trump asked Infantino to review the red card. The federation also faced criticism for awarding a “FIFA Peace Prize” to the US president in November 2025, a decision whose criteria were never clarified.

UEFA, also headquartered in Switzerland, has been sharply critical of Infantino since the start of the crisis, with its president Aleksander Ceferin leading an anti‑Infantino revolt among European federations.

Knäbel demands transparency

ASF president Peter Knäbel said the organisation “expects the highest standards of transparency, traceability and institutional responsibility from FIFA”. He added, “These questions have not been clarified convincingly, we cannot assume responsibility for continuing to support Gianni Infantino’s candidacy.”

With the withdrawal of his home federation’s backing, Infantino remains the sole candidate for the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. The deadline for submitting candidatures runs until 18 November.