The English Football Association was intending to support Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president in the 2027 elections, before the recent crisis erupted over the decision to cancel the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun, which sparked a wave of criticism and calls for the resignation of the FIFA president.

According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, FIFA quietly asked major national associations worldwide to send formal letters endorsing Infantino's candidacy for a new term. The paper said the English FA agreed to the request in recent months and was preparing to send the letter of support at the start of the World Cup, but it declined to confirm whether it had actually sent the letter, amid the growing controversy over Infantino's relationship with US President Donald Trump.

Trump shows a red card alongside Infantino at the White House (Reuters)

The newspaper added that the English FA found itself in a difficult position due to its silence on the crisis, while former FA chairman David Bernstein and several British political figures called for Infantino's resignation. However, the FA has reasons to maintain a good relationship with the FIFA president, most notably England's imminent official announcement as host of the Women's World Cup in November, in addition to the possibility of bidding for a future men's World Cup, which may require Infantino's support.

The newspaper noted that Infantino's re-election had been considered virtually certain for some time, after he won the 2019 and 2023 elections unopposed, and his FIFA Forward program helped fund football projects worldwide, boosting his popularity among many national associations.

The South American confederation announced in April its collective support for Infantino with the votes of its ten member associations, while the African confederation declared the backing of all its 54 associations, and the Asian confederation with 47 associations, giving him already more than 111 votes, exceeding the majority required to win the FIFA presidency.

However, the newspaper confirmed that UEFA entered the fray, stating that FIFA had 'crossed the red line' due to its 'unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustified' decision to overturn Balogun's suspension.

The anger escalated after Trump himself said he pressured Infantino to cancel the sanction on the American player, drawing widespread criticism within world football.

Infantino alongside Trump at the White House (Reuters)

Despite condemnation from UEFA, Germany, and Belgium over what happened, Infantino posted on his accounts a photo with English FA chair Debbie Hewitt, presenting him with an England shirt bearing the name 'Infantino 9', a move seen as a message affirming the strong relationship between the two sides.

The newspaper noted that the United States' exit from the World Cup against Belgium slightly eased pressure on FIFA, but the decision to lift Balogun's suspension after Trump's intervention sparked the first major rebellion within football against Infantino.

German coach Jürgen Klopp joined the critics, saying: 'This is our sport, not their sport. If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino decided this between them, that is insane and makes everything questionable.'

Prominent British political figures, along with David Bernstein, also called for Infantino's resignation, while the English FA still refuses to announce its official stance on the crisis.

In response, Infantino insisted that 'FIFA's judicial bodies are completely independent and work autonomously, far from any influence from him.'