Swiss Football Association withdraws support for Infantino in FIFA elections

The Swiss Football Association has announced that it has withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino's presidential candidacy for the new term. The decision is considered a noteworthy development from a symbolic perspective, as it comes from the country that hosts FIFA's headquarters.

The Association's Central Committee reported that it had re-evaluated the stance of support it announced in June following developments in recent months. The statement noted that recent events have raised "fundamental questions" regarding leadership, governance, transparency, and decision-making processes within FIFA.

In its statement, the Swiss Association specifically referred to "issues regarding the clarity of rules and the integrity of competitions in the Balogun case." This expression was reported as a reference to the controversy surrounding the cancellation of the American player's red card before the round of 16 in the last World Cup.

The Association emphasized that trust in international football governance can only be built through the reliability, transparency, accountability, and effective participation of authorized bodies as stipulated in the statutes.

Swiss Football Association President Peter Knäbel also stated that they expect the FIFA administration to adhere to the highest standards of transparency, traceability, and institutional accountability, adding that he could not take on the responsibility of continuing to support Infantino's candidacy.

Nevertheless, the Association noted that as the football body of the country hosting the FIFA headquarters, it is aware of its responsibility and will continue to call for transparency, rule-based decision-making processes, and the strengthening of an ethical international football community.