New Zealand withdraw Infantino support

New Zealand Football have decided to not support FIFA President Gianni Infantino. OFC ExCo also release statement.

The NZF announced the decision in a statement Friday.

The full statement reads:

“New Zealand Football (NZF) today announced that it has formally withdrawn its support for the candidature of Gianni Infantino as FIFA President at the 2027 FIFA Congress.

In addition, NZF is also seeking an independent review of the steps undertaken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme.

After careful consideration, NZF has formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust.

NZF believes this point in time represents an opportunity for all FIFA member associations to advocate for stronger governance, accountability and transparency which are fundamental in maintaining confidence of the administration of the global game.”

The statement comes after Infantino has proposed spinning off FIFA’s commercial businesses — including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women — into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors.

The proposal received severe backlash from several confederations – UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF most notably – before being shut down after a few days.

Several FA’s have withdrawn their support for Infantino as FIFA president, with NZ being the latest.

The OFC Executive Committee also released the following statement Friday:

“Following the conclusion of its meeting on 12 August, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Executive Committee considered recent developments concerning the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

The OFC Executive Committee welcomes FIFA’s decision to withdraw the FFE proposal and its commitment to review the issues surrounding the project.

OFC recognises the progress achieved over the last decade in advancing football development in Oceania under FIFA’s leadership and encourages FIFA to use the review as an opportunity to identify and implement any changes that may be necessary.

Good governance, transparency and respect for established institutional processes are fundamental to the effective administration and sustainable development of football. These principles are essential at every level of the game and should be upheld consistently by all football stakeholders.

The development of football remains OFC’s priority. The Confederation will continue to support initiatives that strengthen the game and create meaningful, sustainable opportunities for football development across Oceania and globally.

In that spirit, OFC remains committed to constructive dialogue and close collaboration with its Member Associations, FIFA, fellow Confederations and all football stakeholders, ensuring that football continues to thrive in all corners of the world.”