The political crisis engulfing FIFA president Gianni Infantino has deepened significantly, with a fourth vice-president withdrawing support, multiple national football federations reversing their endorsements, and the dismissal of the governing body's chief operating officer emerging as the trigger for the latest wave of condemnation.
Hungarian football chief Sandor Csanyi — one of eight FIFA vice-presidents and a member of the FIFA Council — has written directly to Infantino to formally withdraw his backing, describing the sudden exit of chief operating officer Kevin Lamour as "the final straw."
Lamour's Dismissal Sparks Outrage
FIFA confirmed on Tuesday (AEST) that Lamour had departed the organisation, weeks after he publicly criticised Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other major tournaments to private equity investors. Lamour had gone so far as to allege that staff had been "deceived" over the proposal, which he characterised as the project of a single individual.
In his letter to Infantino, Csanyi made clear he viewed the dismissal as an act of retaliation that exposed deep failings at the top of world football's governing body.
"Kevin performed his duties to a high professional and ethical standard and, as a highly competent executive, made a significant contribution to the transparent operation of the organisation," Csanyi wrote. "The fact that his dismissal was prompted by his criticism of the above-mentioned initiative — an initiative that you yourself ultimately acknowledged to have been misguided — points to serious shortcomings in professional judgement, ethical standards and leadership."
FIFA did not respond to requests for comment.
Montenegro and Israel Withdraw Support
Csanyi is not alone. Dejan Savicevic, president of Montenegro's football association and a FIFA Council member since 2017, has also formally withdrawn an earlier letter of support for Infantino's candidacy. Writing to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, Savicevic described recent events as "extremely worrying."
"The proposals put forward exposed concerning vulnerabilities regarding governance, not only at political level but also within the FIFA administration," Savicevic wrote, adding that Montenegro's football association backs UEFA's call for a thorough review of FIFA leadership's conduct.
Israel has also withdrawn its support for Infantino's re-election bid, with the decision made unanimously following a board meeting of the Israel Football Association.
Earlier this month, Wales became the first nation to publicly call for Infantino's resignation. Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney accused Infantino of attempting to "sell off the crown jewels" of the game to private equity, and said the FIFA president should step down.
Growing Confederation Opposition
The dissent now spans multiple continents and structures within the game. Csanyi is the fourth FIFA vice-president to publicly challenge Infantino's conduct in recent months. He joins UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, and CONCACAF president Vittorio Montagliani in calling out the FIFA president's behaviour. Together, they represent three confederations that have reportedly pressured Infantino to resign.
For context on how political and institutional pressures can reshape international organisations and their leadership, the dynamics at play in FIFA echo broader patterns seen in global governance disputes.
Infantino is currently seeking a fourth term as FIFA president and is up for re-election in March, with his mandate potentially running until 2031. The collapse in support among senior officials raises serious questions about whether he retains the political capital to secure that term uncontested. FIFA's governance decisions have drawn intense scrutiny in recent months, with the body facing criticism on multiple fronts.
What Comes Next
With the March election approaching and opposition growing from within FIFA's own council, the coming weeks are likely to prove decisive. The commercial rights sale plan may have been shelved, but the fallout from its proposal — and from the dismissal of the executive who spoke out against it — shows no sign of abating.
Whether Infantino can rebuild sufficient trust among member associations and council members before the vote remains the central question facing world football's most powerful governing body. As of now, the momentum appears firmly against him.
