New Zealand Football has joined the growing list of federations calling for sweeping changes at FIFA, withdrawing their support for embattled president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino is facing the threat of civil war in the aftermath of his abandoned plan to sell off a 20 per cent stake in major FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, to private equity.
Called the FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, the proposal united the football world in condemnation, with Infantino quickly aborting the scheme.
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While he maintains support in Africa and South America, as well as inside FIFA itself, UEFA, Asia’s AFC and North and Central America’s CONMEBOL penned an open letter accusing the 56-year old of “deception”.
Reports have since swirled that the three associations are considering staging a breakaway World Cup-esque tournament should their demands not be met.
They have been joined in opposition by the All Whites, who released a statement on Friday against Infantino’s push to remain as president.
“New Zealand Football (NZF) today announced that it has formally withdrawn its support for the candidature of Gianni Infantino as FIFA President at the 2027 FIFA Congress,” the statement reads.
“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 Kiwis join the Football Association of Ireland in actively calling for Infantino to stand down.
“Following an FAI board meeting, the decision was taken to rescind the letter of support (for Infantino) that the Association supplied earlier this year,” a statement reads.
“The Association is grateful for the support that FIFA provides to Irish football, but recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.
“Considering the governance challenges that the FAI has had to overcome in recent years, the Association feels a particular obligation to advocate for and uphold best practice.”
Australia’s FFA’s response has been limited to standing with the AFC’s call for “clear and credible action”.