The Swiss Football Association (SFA) has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president. The SFA's executive board made the decision to withdraw support after the association had previously backed Infant in June.
The SFA's president, Peter Knäbel, stated that Infant's current candidacy for the FIFA presidency could not be justified. Knäbel highlighted that key questions regarding the background, responsibility, and decision-making processes remained unanswered. He added that the SFA expected the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and institutional responsibility from the FIFA leadership.
The executive board's decision followed a review of the past few months' events. Infant has faced significant pressure over the summer regarding plans to include private investors in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. Additionally, he has faced sharp criticism in other parts of the world for his leadership style.
Infantino, who is Swiss, is 56 years old. The elections for the FIFA presidency are scheduled for March next year, with Infant currently being the only candidate.
Peter Knäbel, the SFA president, is a former official at German club Hamburger SV and former sporting director of Schalke 04. His statement reflects the association's stance that the highest level of accountability is expected from the FIFA leadership.
