The Irish Football Association has confirmed it will not support Gianni Infantino in next year’s Fifa presidential election, adding to growing opposition against the governing body’s long-serving leader.
The Northern Irish association has hardened its position following controversy over an abandoned proposal to sell a 21% share of Fifa’s commercial operations to a private investment firm.
The plan triggered strong criticism across European football and was ultimately withdrawn after Uefa warned it could boycott Fifa competitions if the deal went ahead.
While the IFA had already aligned itself with Uefa’s objections, it had stopped short of formally withdrawing support from Infantino. It has now made clear that it believes a change in leadership is necessary.
The association said the attempted sale exposed wider concerns about how major strategic decisions are being handled inside Fifa, particularly around governance, consultation and the long-term management of the organisation’s commercial assets.
The IFA now joins the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, all of which have previously said they will not back Infantino for another term.
Infantino, 56, is expected to seek a fourth term as Fifa president when the election is held in March 2027.
If re-elected and able to complete the full term, the Swiss official would remain in charge until 2031, taking his total time at the head of world football’s governing body to 15 years.