The Italian Football Federation has joined other nations in withdrawing its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The FIGC announced on Wednesday that it would no longer support Infantino’s reelection bid in March due to recent FIFA governance initiatives and international competition development.

Infantino faced mounting pressure to resign following his abandoned plan to sell shares of the World Cup to private equity investors. Three continental confederations accused him of deceit, with UEFA threatening to boycott FIFA events. FIGC President Giovanni Malagò stated, “We will collaborate with UEFA and European federations to advocate for a soccer model based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement.”

Soccer federations in England, Wales, and Ireland, along with Norway and five Nordic countries, have also withdrawn support or expressed loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership. Despite initial expectations of an uncontested reelection, FIFA has set a deadline for potential challengers by November 18.

While some member federations endorse Infantino, including World Cup co-host Morocco and Qatar, others like Saudi Arabia have not publicly supported him. UEFA is expected to retract its boycott threat against FIFA competitions following assurances that Infantino’s failed World Cup sell-off plan will not be revived.

This decision will enable European teams to participate in upcoming events, such as the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. The tournament faced uncertainty amidst European soccer’s opposition to Infantino’s proposal for a $20 billion subsidiary controlled by private investors. UEFA and other confederations vehemently opposed the plan, leading to its swift abandonment by Infantino.

UEFA’s doubts about Infantino’s leadership have been clear, with the organization signaling its intention to hinder his reelection in March 2023.