Welsh FA chief calls for Infantino to step down

What the report says

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney has called on Fifa president Gianni Infantino to resign, saying the controversy surrounding his proposed restructuring of World Cup and other competition rights has damaged trust in football. The comments were reported by BBC Sport Football and follow criticism of Infantino’s plan to create a new company to manage commercial and ticketing rights, with a minority stake originally intended for a private investor before the idea was dropped.

Mooney, who previously worked with Infantino at Uefa, said he believed the Fifa president should consider stepping down because of the wider harm caused to the game. He also pointed to successful work done under Infantino’s earlier career, but argued that the recent episode had overshadowed that record. His remarks were made in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

The Welsh FA was among the first home-nation associations to withdraw support for Infantino’s bid to continue leading Fifa, and Mooney said Wales wants a broader review of Fifa’s governance and decision-making structures. He suggested too much authority is concentrated in the presidency and said rebuilding trust will require a process that is not led by Infantino himself.

The issue matters because it reflects growing concern among football associations about how Fifa is run and who controls major commercial decisions around the World Cup. BBC Sport notes that other associations and officials have also spoken out against the plan in recent days.