New Zealand breaks with OFC over Infantino support
New Zealand has become the latest nation to withdraw its support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid. This decision places New Zealand Football (NZF) in opposition to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), which has cautiously backed Fifa’s leadership. The move follows Infantino’s aborted plans to sell a portion of the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors.
Infantino has faced a significant loss of support from three regional confederations: Europe’s Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Concacaf (North and Central America and the Caribbean). These confederations have called for a review of his leadership and criticised his conduct regarding the plan to introduce private investment into Fifa competitions. However, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and the South American governing body Conmebol have continued to back the Fifa president as he seeks a fourth term at the Fifa Congress in March.
New Zealand joins several individual member nations, including England, Wales, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, in confirming they will not support Infantino’s re-election. New Zealand was the only one of the OFC’s 11 members to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. In contrast, fellow OFC member New Caledonia has reaffirmed its support for Infantino.
Call for independent review of Fifa Forward Enterprise Scheme
New Zealand Football is also seeking an independent review of the steps taken to develop the Fifa Forward Enterprise Scheme (FFE). A statement from NZF indicated that decisions and actions within Fifa have contributed to a breakdown of trust and increased division within international football, necessitating an independent review to restore confidence.
NZF believes this moment offers an opportunity for all Fifa member associations to advocate for stronger governance, accountability, and transparency, which are considered fundamental for maintaining confidence in the administration of the global game. NZF Chief Executive Andrew Pragnell stated, “We’ve called for an independent review specifically because what we don’t want to see is a sort of in-house quick washover of this.”
The OFC, in its statement, welcomed Fifa’s decision to withdraw the FFE proposal and its commitment to review the issues surrounding the project. The confederation acknowledged the progress in football development in Oceania under Fifa’s leadership over the last decade. It encouraged Fifa to use the review as an opportunity to identify and implement any necessary changes.
Infantino’s proposal involved selling a 20 per cent stake in the commercial rights of Fifa competitions to private investors. This plan, which could have been worth more than $4 billion, faced strong opposition. Uefa issued a statement rejecting the proposal, asserting that the World Cup should not be treated as an investment product and that no part of it should be surrendered to private investors.
Many member associations protested the proposal, which included a $20 million grant for member associations for the next funding cycle, with an additional $20 million sweetener for those who accepted before a specific date. Senior figures within Fifa also expressed concerns about the lack of consultation. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to the Fifa president, resigned, stating his opposition to the deal for member associations and the long-term future of the game.
Confederations divided on leadership
Despite the opposition from some confederations, Infantino retains significant support. The Confederation of African Football’s executive committee unanimously confirmed its backing for Infantino. Additionally, six heads of Arab national football associations, including Qatar and 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, have publicly supported him, appreciating his efforts to advance football globally.
However, the unity among confederations is not absolute. While Concacaf backed Uefa’s call for a review of Fifa’s governance, Mexico has broken ranks, expressing support for President Infantino’s leadership in promoting football development. Concacaf members Mexico, Grenada, and St Kitts and Nevis have gone against their federation and backed Infantino, while Argentina aligns with Conmebol in its support.
Mr Pragnell emphasised that an independent review into the scrapped Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal needs to clarify decision-making and oversight within Fifa. He also highlighted the importance of identifying those involved in the plan for Thrive Capital, a firm with reported links to US President Donald Trump, to play a leading role in the venture. Australia, an AFC member, has also called for an independent review, aligning with the Asian bloc’s stance.
The Norwegian Football Association was among the first to call for Infantino’s resignation, with its president, Lise Klaveness, stating that trust had been lost. Uefa had previously voted unanimously to boycott all Fifa competitions until the FFE plans were abandoned. This global condemnation, coupled with rejections from Concacaf and the AFC, led to Infantino’s withdrawal of the proposal on 1 August.
Source: bbc.com