Nordic nations say they have lost confidence in Infantino and FIFA governance

Six Nordic football associations delivered a united blow to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday, declaring they had lost confidence in his leadership while demanding sweeping governance reforms at world soccer’s governing body.

The ​six Nordic FIFA members — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands — met in ‌Helsinki and issued a rare joint statement backing calls for Infantino’s resignation from three major regional confederations.

They also supported demands for an independent investigation into his controversial proposal to sell a stake in events like the World Cup to private equity ​investors, a plan that was quickly abandoned in the face of global backlash.

“The six Nordic football ​associations have lost confidence in FIFA’s president and are concerned about the organization’s governance ⁠and decision-making at the highest level,” they said in a statement.

“The Nordic football associations stand united with ​UEFA and support the measures that the organization and its national member associations have jointly proposed.

“We expect FIFA ​to provide binding guarantees that the organization’s governance or competitions will never again be opened up to private ownership.”

Reuters has contacted FIFA for comment on the statement.

On Friday, Denmark’s football association (DBU) vowed to find a credible alternative to Infantino in next year’s ​election.

Infantino is under pressure from three confederations to resign, including Europe’s UEFA, Asia’s AFC and CONCACAF, which represents North ​and Central America and the Caribbean.

The sport’s regional powerhouses have also discussed a potential vote of no confidence against the FIFA ‌chief.

“We ⁠also support the demand made by AFC, CONCACAF and UEFA that a fully independent external investigation into the events surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal be established,” the Nordic FAs added.

“We also call on FIFA to initiate a comprehensive and independent review of its governance framework to determine whether it ensures the independence, checks ​and balances, transparency and accountability ​that were intended when ⁠FIFA adopted its reform programme in 2016.”

Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term until 2031 at next year’s election, is in the Dominican Republic this weekend ​where he met with officials of the Caribbean Football Union.

CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani had ​asked Infantino to ⁠stay away from a youth soccer tournament in the country, saying his presence would overshadow the event.

“This meeting of the Presidents of CFU takes place in the environment of (a) Under-14 youth tournament in the region, which actually ⁠is one ​of those tournaments that can take place thanks (to) the FIFA ​Forward programme,” Infantino said.

“So, even more so, a reason to be proud to be here. And happy, as well, because it’s important to ​engage, to have a dialogue, to express views and opinions.”