New Zealand withdraws support for Infantino

New Zealand has become the latest country to withdraw its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, also distancing itself from the position of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

New Zealand Football has announced that it will not support Infantino’s reelection for a fourth term as head of FIFA, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Infantino has lost the backing of several major confederations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf, following failed plans to sell 20% of the commercial rights to the World Cup to private investors.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) continue to support the 56-year-old for another term.

New Zealand has joined several individual football associations, including England, Wales, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which have confirmed that they will not vote for Infantino.

New Zealand Football has also called for an independent review of how the “FIFA Forward Enterprise Scheme” project was handled.

“Decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown of trust and growing divisions within international football,” the federation said in a statement.

New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell called for the process to go beyond an internal FIFA review.

“An independent review is something that has also been requested by other confederations and would help restore trust,” Pragnell said.

New Zealand was the only one of the 11 OFC members to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. New Caledonia, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its support for Infantino.

The OFC welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the proposal but has not stated whether it supports or opposes Infantino’s reelection.

Photo: FIFA