The Swiss Football Association's central council has decided to withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino's candidacy for a new term as FIFA president, following a comprehensive reassessment of the developments that have occurred in recent months.
The Swiss Football Association clarified that the decision, made during the central council meeting on 25 September 2026, comes amid fundamental questions regarding governance, transparency, and decision-making mechanisms within FIFA. It specifically pointed to the Balogun case and the associated clarity of rules and integrity of competitions, in addition to issues related to institutional oversight and accountability in the "FIFA Forward Enterprise".
The federation confirmed that credibility, transparency, and accountability, along with the involvement of legally authorized bodies in the decision-making process, are essential conditions for maintaining trust in the leadership of global football and ensuring the integrity of FIFA. According to the statement, these foundations are no longer sufficiently available, in light of the developments that have occurred since June and the continued presence of several unanswered questions.
Peter Knabel, the president of the Swiss Football Association, stated: "The Swiss Football Association expects FIFA's leadership to uphold the highest standards regarding transparency, interpretability of decisions, and institutional accountability. The steps announced by FIFA in its message dated September 21 represent an important signal and could contribute to improvements, but fundamental questions regarding backgrounds, responsibilities, and decision-making mechanisms remain unanswered. As these have not been convincingly clarified, we cannot bear the responsibility of continuing to support Gianni Infantino's candidacy."
The Swiss Football Association emphasized that its decision does not mean abandoning constructive cooperation within FIFA or with the international football family. It confirmed that it will continue to work to enhance transparency, reliable and accountable structures, establish rule-based decision-making processes, and support the unity and integrity of global football.
