Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president has lost the backing of Switzerland’s football federation, a late reversal from the association based in the country that hosts both FIFA and UEFA.
The move
The Swiss Football Association’s central committee voted on 25 September 2026 to withdraw the support it had announced for Infantino in June 2026.
Its decision came after what it described as a detailed reassessment of developments in recent months. The federation said several matters had raised fundamental concerns over FIFA’s leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making procedures.
Among the issues identified were the clarity of regulations and competitive integrity in the Balogun case, as well as institutional integration and accountability connected to FIFA Forward Enterprise.
Why Switzerland changed position
The association said credibility, transparency, accountability and meaningful involvement of the statutory bodies were essential conditions for trust in the administration of international football and FIFA’s integrity.
It concluded that, in light of developments since June and questions that remain unresolved, those conditions were no longer being met.
Switzerland also underlined its particular responsibility as the home country of FIFA and UEFA. The federation said it would continue to argue for transparent and dependable structures, rule-based decision-making and a united international game built on integrity.
The French season around it
No Ligue 1 club, player or French football authority was directly involved in the Swiss federation’s decision. The withdrawal concerns FIFA’s presidential election and the wider governance of world football rather than a domestic French competition matter.
