The Italian Football Federation has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of the international football governing body's presidential election scheduled for March 2027.
The Italian federation announced the decision on Wednesday in an official statement published on its website, marking a significant break with the current leadership of world football.
According to the statement, the move aims to express the position of the Italian body in a clear and transparent manner, acting in full agreement with European football governing body UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin. The federation stated that its stance comes in response to recent governance initiatives and international competition development plans promoted by Infantino.
Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian Football Federation, stated that Italy would continue working closely alongside UEFA and other European national federations. Malagò said that administrators must promote a future vision for football grounded in sporting merit, solidarity, financial sustainability and the fundamental importance of supporters.
Malagò added that Italian football aligns itself with a governance model based on open dialogue, listening and shared responsibility. He noted that this collaborative framework has historically enabled the sport to expand, innovate and defend its core founding principles.
Opposition to commercial rights proposals
The withdrawal of support follows growing controversy surrounding Infantino after details emerged of a proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA competition commercial rights. Under the plan, the commercial rights for major international tournaments would be transferred to a subsidiary entity created by FIFA, opening the door for private investors to purchase equity in the venture.
The commercial proposal generated substantial friction across the global game, prompting multiple national federations and regional confederations to voice strong rejection of the project. That backlash has increasingly translated into formal opposition to Infantino's candidacy as he seeks re-election for another term at the helm of FIFA.
FIFA, based in Zurich, Switzerland, serves as the global governing authority for association football, with presidential elections conducted every four years by vote of its member nations. Infantino, a Swiss-Italian administrator, has held the presidency since 2016, while UEFA represents the 55 national football associations across Europe.
The decision by Italy, one of European football's most influential member associations, signals mounting opposition within UEFA ahead of the vote in March 2027.
