FIFA president Gianni Infantino loses backing from Swiss Football Association

The Swiss Football Association (FSF) has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino following a recent meeting, according to the organisation.

The decision means the 56-year-old Swiss no longer has the backing of his own national football association as criticism of his leadership intensifies. Infantino’s position has come under growing scrutiny in recent weeks over plans to commercialise the World Cup and a telephone call with Donald Trump concerning Folarin Balogun’s red card during the same competition.

Several football associations have criticised the FIFA president over those issues, while UEFA has even announced a boycott.

According to Swiss broadcaster SRF, the FSF reached its decision after a meeting that included an “in-depth review of events over the past few months”. The association said the discussion had led it to distance itself from Infantino.

“From the point of view of the Swiss Football Association (FSF), various events raise fundamental questions concerning leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making processes within FIFA,” the federation said.

“This concerns, in particular, the clarity of the rules and competitive integrity in the Balogun case, as well as the institutional integration and accountability associated with FIFA Forward Enterprise.”

The FSF’s decision adds to the pressure on Infantino, who has faced condemnation from federations over both football governance and FIFA’s commercial direction.