Israel has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president, adding to growing opposition within European football over his leadership and recent decisions at the global governing body.
The head of the Israel Football Association, IFA, Moshe Zuares, confirmed the decision in a letter sent on Tuesday, saying recent developments had created an “unprecedented crisis of confidence” between UEFA and FIFA.
Zuares said the disagreement reflected a deeper and more fundamental dispute over the direction of global football governance.
He said the rift was “profound, substantive, and principled” and had forced stakeholders to reconsider the future direction of the sport.
Following a unanimous decision by the IFA board, Zuares said Israel had no choice but to withdraw its previous letter of support for Infantino’s re-election.
He expressed hope that dialogue between the different parties could eventually restore a common vision for world football.
Israel’s decision follows similar moves by other UEFA members, including England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, who have also withdrawn their support for Infantino.
The development comes amid increased scrutiny of FIFA’s leadership and concerns surrounding its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, FFE, scheme.
Infantino’s decision to part ways with his chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, has further intensified criticism. Lamour had publicly raised concerns about the World Cup sell-off plan and the FFE proposal before leaving FIFA.
In a statement on July 31, Lamour indicated that he understood his criticism could cost him his position. His departure was confirmed on Monday, triggering further criticism from some senior UEFA officials.
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Laura McAllister, a UEFA executive committee member and former Wales Women international, criticized the decision to remove Lamour.
McAllister, one of UEFA’s vice-presidents, said the decision sent a “deeply troubling message” and raised questions about FIFA’s efforts to address concerns surrounding its administration.
She praised Lamour for challenging the proposed scheme and defending what she described as the interests and values of football.
According to McAllister, Lamour’s departure weakens FIFA’s administration and undermines an opportunity to improve the organization’s culture.
She argued that FIFA should be guided by sporting values rather than being driven primarily by commercial and financial considerations.
“FIFA is not the president, it is the whole football family,” McAllister said, calling for strong, independent and principled leadership within the organization.
Israel’s relationship with Infantino has also been complicated by his efforts to improve sporting relations between Israel and Palestine.
At FIFA’s congress in April, Infantino attempted to arrange a photograph involving representatives of both delegations in Vancouver.
However, Palestinian Football Federation president Jibril Rajoub declined to stand alongside IFA vice-president Basim Sheikh Suliman.
Despite the setback, Infantino has continued to support sporting initiatives involving both sides.
He is reportedly seeking to have Israel and Palestine participate in the opening match of a new under-15 tournament scheduled to take place in the United States next month.
Israel’s withdrawal therefore represents another setback for Infantino as he faces increasing political pressure within European football.
The growing opposition could intensify in the coming days as FIFA members continue to debate the organization’s leadership, governance and commercial direction ahead of the presidential election.
The Guardian
