The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has pulled its backing for embattled Fifa president Gianni Infantino, while the Irish Football Association says it supports Uefa’s position.
On Monday, European football’s governing body Uefa joined Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation in signing an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception”.
The row stems from Infantino’s now-abandoned plan to sell a stake in Fifa’s commercial arm to a private investment firm, a move that has left his push for a fourth term at the helm of world football in jeopardy.
Last week, the Welsh FA became the first home nation to withdraw support, with the FA following soon after.
The FAI, which governs football in the Republic of Ireland, has now confirmed in a letter to Fifa that it is rescinding its earlier endorsement of Infantino, having initially backed him before the post-World Cup fallout.
“Following an FAI board meeting, we decided to revoke the letter of support issued earlier this year,” it said.
“We have since written to Fifa to set out our reasons.
“While we appreciate the support Fifa provides to Irish football, recent developments have raised serious concerns about governance, transparency, and the lack of meaningful consultation.
“Given the governance challenges the FAI has overcome in recent years, we feel a particular responsibility to promote and uphold best practice.”
Northern Ireland’s governing body (the IFA) acknowledged the “wider concerns” within football regarding Infantino. Although it has not formally withdrawn support, it is aligning with Uefa’s stance.
“We take our responsibilities as a member association of both Uefa and Fifa seriously,” an IFA spokesperson said.
“We support Uefa’s current position on this matter and will continue to engage constructively on issues of football governance.
“We are aware of the recent developments and broader concerns across the football community. We are considering these issues carefully and will continue to engage through the appropriate governance structures and channels.
“At this stage, we have no further comment.”