The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election in 2027, becoming the latest European federation to publicly oppose the Swiss administrator amid growing concerns over governance and transparency.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell confirmed the decision on Monday, saying the governing body had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership following the controversy surrounding FIFA’s abandoned proposal to sell a stake in its commercial operations to private investors.
The move places Scotland alongside the English, Welsh and Irish football associations, all of whom have rescinded earlier letters of support as pressure mounts ahead of the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 2027 in Morocco.
At the centre of the dispute is FIFA’s now-scrapped plan to create a commercial subsidiary linked to its competitions, including the World Cup. The proposal triggered widespread opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which criticised both the substance of the project and the decision-making process behind it.
Maxwell said the issue extended beyond a single commercial proposal and reflected broader concerns about how power is exercised within football’s governing body. He also backed reforms designed to prevent excessive authority being concentrated in the FIFA presidency.
Despite the growing European opposition, Infantino is still expected to stand for another term when FIFA’s 211 member associations vote next year. He continues to enjoy significant backing from the Confederation of African Football and South America’s CONMEBOL, meaning the election remains far from decided.
The Scottish FA’s decision adds further momentum to what has become the most serious challenge of Infantino’s decade-long presidency. Alongside questions over governance, separate legal and ethical scrutiny has emerged regarding FIFA’s interpretation of presidential term limits, with critics arguing that his eligibility for another mandate should be independently reviewed.
For Scotland, the announcement signals a clear alignment with UEFA’s calls for greater accountability rather than an immediate boycott of FIFA competitions. The focus now shifts to the months leading up to the March 2027 election, where football’s member associations will determine the future leadership of the global game.
