Welsh FA chief calls for Infantino to step down
August 19, 2026 12:21
The chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, Noel Mooney, has publicly called for Fifa president Gianni Infantino to resign. Mooney’s demand follows Infantino’s proposal to transfer commercial and ticketing rights for Fifa competitions into a new company and to sell a minority stake to private investors — a plan that has since been abandoned.
Mooney, who worked with Infantino at Uefa, acknowledged positive aspects of Infantino’s record but said the controversy over the proposed sale has inflicted harm on the game and damaged trust between Fifa and many national associations.
KEY CONTEXT
- Infantino has led Fifa since 2016.
- The criticised proposal would have created a separate company to manage commercial and ticketing rights for Fifa competitions, with 21% intended for sale to a private investor.
- Wales was the first of the home nations to withdraw support for Infantino’s bid to remain Fifa president; other associations later publicised objections.
- Although the sell-off proposal has been scrapped, Mooney says the episode exposed governance problems at Fifa and concentrated power in the presidency.
WHY IT MATTERS
Mooney frames the episode as more than a single policy misstep: he says it has eroded trust between Fifa and its member associations and damaged football’s reputation. That loss of confidence, he argues, points to structural issues in how decisions are made at Fifa and to the need for stronger, independent processes to restore credibility.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Mooney expects further discussions in the coming weeks and says he hopes Infantino is reflecting on his position; those comments reflect pressure but do not establish any planned resignation.
- Mooney has called for a full review of Fifa’s governance, processes and structures, and specified that such a review should not be led by the Fifa president.
- The immediate developments to monitor are any formal moves by member associations regarding Infantino’s leadership and whether an independent review is commissioned.
KEY FACTS
- Gianni Infantino has been Fifa president since 2016.
- Noel Mooney, FAW chief executive, has called for Infantino to step down.
- Infantino proposed creating a company to manage Fifa commercial and ticketing rights and selling 21% to private investors; the plan was later scrapped.
- Wales was the first home nation to withdraw backing for Infantino’s continued leadership.
- Mooney says trust is broken with many associations and that governance review is needed, led independently of the president.