English FA Withdraws Support for FIFA President Infantino

The English Football Association is set to withdraw its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the collapse of his controversial privatization plan, according to BBC reporting.

Infantino's proposal to create a commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors has drawn widespread criticism from football's governing bodies worldwide. UEFA, the European football confederation, has threatened legal action and demanded FIFA preserve all related documents.

Wales has already publicly withdrawn its backing for Infantino's reelection bid. Additional opposition has come from governing bodies in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

FIFA had proposed allowing external investors to purchase minority, non-controlling stakes in the new subsidiary overseeing major events, including World Cups. The plan has now been scrapped amid the mounting pressure.