Jamie Gardner

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is under mounting pressure after national and continental football bodies rejected or criticized his plan to attract private investment for a company managing FIFA competitions. Norway’s football federation says trust in Infantino has disappeared and is calling for his resignation, while Mexico, Argentina and Africa’s CAF continue to support him. UEFA, FIFPro, LaLiga and several European federations have condemned his governance, with FIFA Council members reportedly considering a formal accountability meeting or boycott. Criticism also centers on FIFA’s unexplained suspension of Folarin Balogun’s ban after alleged lobbying by Donald Trump.

The Football Association continues to oppose Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president, despite FIFA's management board declaring its full support for him. Opposition has grown over the handling of the FIFA Forward Enterprise private-investor proposal and the Folarin Balogun case, with the Football Association of Wales, Serbia, Sweden and Finland also withdrawing support. FIFA Council members are considering forcing a meeting to hold Infantino accountable and may boycott Council meetings if he refuses or they cannot secure the required majority. UEFA has said it has lost confidence in Infantino, while Jordanian football president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein accused FIFA of blackmail; FIFA has not responded to that allegation.

FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun’s red‑card ban for one year, allowing him to play against Belgium, prompting accusations from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter that political pressure influenced the decision. Reports indicated potential involvement from the US government, welcomed by President Donald Trump, though neither FIFA nor the White House’s World Cup Task Force commented. The Belgian football association expressed astonishment and pursued an appeal, while coaches Rudi Garcia and Thomas Tuchel criticised the lack of transparency and consistency surrounding the reversal.

Dawn Astle is urging the UK Government to recognize football-related neurodegenerative diseases, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, as industrial diseases after a coroner found that heading the ball likely contributed to Gordon McQueen’s brain injury. She is lobbying through the Professional Footballers’ Association and also wants stronger Health and Safety Executive oversight of player risk assessments. A separate legal challenge by Dave Watson’s family could enable former players and relatives to claim benefits, while Astle is encouraging footballers to donate their brains for research.