The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland is expecting the Football Association of Ireland to formally withdraw its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, following similar moves by the English and Welsh football associations.
The player representative body believes it is only a matter of time before the FAI distances itself from Infantino, who has faced growing criticism from football organisations across these islands in recent weeks.
England and Wales both made their positions clear by pulling their backing for the FIFA chief, and the PFAI now anticipates that Ireland will follow that same path. The association represents professional players across the League of Ireland and beyond, and has been vocal in its stance on governance issues within the global game.
Infantino has been a divisive figure at the top of world football for some time. His leadership of FIFA has drawn scrutiny from players, fans, and governing bodies alike, with concerns raised over everything from tournament expansion plans to the handling of human rights issues surrounding major competitions hosted in controversial locations.
The moves by the English and Welsh FAs marked a significant moment, given that these are two of the most historically influential football associations in the world. For them to publicly withdraw support sends a strong signal to other associations about the mood within European football towards the current FIFA leadership.
For the FAI, the decision would carry its own weight. Irish football has had its own complicated history with FIFA and broader football governance, and any formal statement distancing the association from Infantino would represent a notable political moment for the domestic game here.
The PFAI has not indicated a specific timeline for when they expect the FAI to act, but the tone from the player body suggests they view it as an inevitable step rather than a question of if. The expectation is that the FAI will read the room and align itself with neighbouring associations who have already taken a stand.
This is not just about internal football politics either. The stance taken by player associations and national bodies on figures like Infantino reflects wider conversations happening in the sport about who football is actually run for. Players, supporters groups, and grassroots organisations have increasingly pushed back against a style of leadership at FIFA that many feel prioritises commercial interests over the integrity of the game.
Whether the FAI moves quickly or takes a more cautious approach remains to be seen. But with the PFAI publicly stating its expectation, there is now added pressure on the association to clarify its position sooner rather than later.
All eyes will be on the FAI to see whether it joins England and Wales in making a formal break from its support of Infantino, or whether it chooses to stay quiet while the debate continues to grow louder across European football.