New Zealand's football federation has officially withdrawn its support for under-fire Fifa president Gianni Infantino. New Zealand Football (NZF) confirmed it will not back the incumbent president when he seeks re-election next year.
This move sees NZF break ranks with the wider Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), becoming the only member of the 11-nation group to pull its support. NZF stated that "decisions and actions within Fifa have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football."
The federation is also seeking an independent review of the steps taken to develop the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme. NZF believes this moment offers an opportunity for all Fifa member associations to advocate for stronger governance, accountability, and transparency.
Infantino has seen global support diminish following his aborted plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. European governing body Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have all withdrawn their backing, alongside individual associations including England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. However, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and South American governing body Conmebol continue to support Infantino for a fourth presidential term.