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Italy’s national football federation (FIGC) said on Wednesday it has withdrawn its support for embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his failed attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup.

The move comes as a host of European national associations, including England, Ireland and Wales, already scrapped their backing of Infantino who is seeking re-election at next year’s FIFA Congress.

“This decision is intended to clearly and transparently express the FIGC’s position… regarding the recent initiatives promoted by the FIFA president concerning the governance and development of international competitions,” FIGC wrote in a statement.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure to step down as head of world football’s governing body over his now-abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup.

UEFA, which oversees European football, has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions.

“We will continue to work alongside UEFA and the other European federations to promote a vision of football based on merit, solidarity, sustainability and the central role of the fans,” said FIGC head Giovanni Malago.

“We identify with a model of dialogue, listening and shared responsibility which has, to date, enabled football to grow, innovate and, at the same time, defend its founding principles.”

Infantino, 56, a former UEFA secretary general, had the broad backing of European nations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016.

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Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has taken a major step in his long-term relationship with Kasi Bennett after reportedly proposing to her following 13 years courtship.

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist is said to have proposed to Bennett during celebrations surrounding his 40th birthday in Kingston, Jamaica, bringing a new chapter to their long-standing relationship.

According to reports, Bolt got down on one knee in front of family and friends before presenting Bennett with a diamond engagement ring.

The proposal reportedly came as a surprise to Bennett, who later shared moments from the special occasion on social media.

The engagement marks a significant moment for the couple, who have been together since 2013 and have built a family together over the years.

Bolt and Bennett welcomed their first child, daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt, in 2020.

They later became parents to twin boys, Thunder and Saint Leo, in 2021.

Although the couple have maintained a relatively private relationship over the years, their romance has attracted considerable public interest because of Bolt’s global status as one of the greatest sprinters in athletics history.

Their relationship became more visible around the period of the 2016 Rio Olympics, when Bolt was still dominating international sprinting and cementing his reputation as a sporting icon.

The Jamaican athlete retired from competitive athletics in 2017 after an extraordinary career that saw him win eight Olympic gold medals and set world records in the 100 metres and 200 metres.

Despite his retirement from professional athletics, Bolt has remained a prominent public figure through business ventures, entertainment appearances and his continued involvement in sports.

The proposal also comes after Bolt had previously spoken about his views on relationships and marriage. He has indicated that he wanted to take his time rather than rush into marriage, particularly because of the importance he places on building a lasting family relationship.

His decision to propose to Bennett after more than a decade together therefore represents a major milestone in their journey as a couple.

Bennett, who has established herself as a businesswoman and social media personality, has been a significant part of Bolt’s life away from the athletics track.

The couple’s three children have also featured in their family life, with Bolt occasionally sharing glimpses of their experiences with fans.

The reported proposal has since generated excitement among fans of the former sprinter, with many celebrating the development after the couple spent more than a decade together.

For Bolt and Bennett, the engagement represents the latest stage in a relationship that has evolved from a private romance into a family partnership.

After years of building a life together and raising three children, the couple are now preparing for another major milestone as they move towards marriage.

The proposal adds a personal highlight to Bolt’s 40th birthday celebrations and gives fans another reason to celebrate the Jamaican sporting legend beyond his achievements on the track.

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UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin has said he is “not interested” in replacing Gianni Infantino, but has warned the under-fire FIFA president must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure to step down as the head of world football’s global governing body over his now-abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.

Meanwhile UEFA, which oversees the running of European football, has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, with several continental and national federations also withdrawing their support for Infantino.

But Ceferin ruled himself out of a bid to take Infantino’s place as the chief of world football, the 58-year-old Slovenian on Monday telling The Rest is Politics podcast: “I’m not interested because of two reasons. One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point… it’s time to also enjoy life a bit.

“And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I’m not interested in the position.”

Ceferin has been vocal in his criticism since Infantino revealed his controversial plans to seek private investment in a company to run FIFA tournaments.
He now believes Infantino’s previously impregnable position is under threat, with Ceferin forecasting he will have to stand down or face a leadership challenge if he seeks re-election at the next FIFA Congress in Morocco in March 2027.

Infantino, a former UEFA secretary general, had the broad backing of European nations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016.

But Ceferin, who revealed he has not spoken to Infantino since the start of the controversy, insisted the current situation was very different.

“There are two options,” he said. “One option is that he (Infantino) realises that he doesn’t have the support, and that’s not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches.
“And the second option that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don’t know yet who.”

CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and AFC boss Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa are considered two of the most likely challengers for Infantino’s position.

AFP