Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales, has publicly stated that Gianni Infantino should step down, and one of FIFA's eight vice-presidents, Sandor Csanyi, has also withdrawn his support.
Gianni Infantino is facing one of the most serious public calls for his departure from the FIFA presidency. On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales, publicly stated that Infantino should resign, while according to Le Figaro, Sandor Csanyi, one of FIFA's eight vice-presidents, also withdrew his support for the current head of world football's governing body on the same day.
At the heart of the discontent is the attempt to involve private investors in the management of valuable commercial and ticketing rights for the World Cups and other competitions under FIFA's umbrella. The plan was to create a new company that would take over the management of these rights, with a private investment company receiving a 21 percent ownership stake.
Although the controversial proposal was subsequently withdrawn, Mooney claims that the consequences are still present. As he said, football has already suffered great damage, and he no longer sees the current president at the helm of FIFA as an acceptable solution.
Mooney described the proposal as an attempt to sell the "crown jewels" of world football. He emphasized that Gianni Infantino, despite having positive aspects in his career, should seriously consider stepping down after such an event. For him, withdrawing the plan is not enough because he believes that trust has already been shaken.
The Welsh FA chief previously worked with Infantino at UEFA and noted that his criticism is not directed at the president's entire career. He praised Infantino's results as UEFA's general secretary and acknowledged some successes during his tenure at the helm of world football. He specifically mentioned technical development programs in which Arsène Wenger participated.
In early August 2026, the Football Association of Wales became the first among the four British football nations' associations to withdraw support for Infantino's continued leadership of FIFA. This move showed that discontent did not remain only at the level of statements but became an official political signal within international football structures.
Pressure could increase if other national associations follow the Welsh example. Gianni Infantino is currently facing one of the most serious public calls for his departure, and the issue of managing FIFA's commercial rights is likely to remain a key topic among the members of the world organization.
According to Le Figaro, Sandor Csanyi, who is also the president of the Hungarian Football Federation, sent a letter to Infantino stating that he had "lost the confidence he previously had" in the FIFA president. Csanyi cited "decisions that serve political interests, not the interests of football," particularly regarding the 2026 World Cup, and the plan to open the organization to private investors, a project carried out "in secrecy, without informing the FIFA Council."
The Hungarian official added that "the straw that broke the camel's back was the unexpected dismissal of Kevin Lamour, FIFA's third-highest official." He concluded with the message: "My conviction that you are capable of leading FIFA successfully and effectively has been shaken."
On Monday, FIFA announced the departure of Lamour, the chief operating officer, an official who oversaw key administrative sectors such as legal affairs, communications, and human resources. Lamour was one of the highest-ranking FIFA officials who criticized Infantino's proposal, calling it a "one-man project."
Infantino is running for a new term in March 2027.
