Gianni Infantino‘s position as FIFA president is facing increased scrutiny, with Wales and England among those withdrawing their support. This follows his decision to abandon a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. UEFA, along with numerous other football bodies, has stated a loss of confidence in Infantino.
The proposal, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was unanimously rejected by UEFA’s national associations and many other federations globally. These bodies insisted they would not participate in any FIFA tournament until the FFE plans were withdrawn, with some even threatening to boycott the next World Cup. This pressure ultimately led to Infantino’s withdrawal of the plan.
Concacaf, the governing body for North America and the Caribbean, also expressed concerns regarding the lack of consultation and rejected the proposal. Similarly, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) called for an urgent review of FIFA’s governance, adding to the pressure on Infantino. The Football Association of Finland was reportedly the first nation to withdraw its support.
Mounting Pressure and Potential Challengers
The Football Association of Wales confirmed its withdrawal of support for Infantino’s re-election for the 2027–2031 term, citing failures in governance, leadership, and stakeholder management. The FAW statement indicated that Infantino had lost their confidence to lead world football. The English FA is also set to formally withdraw its support, having previously endorsed him.
With the next FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027, several individuals are being considered as potential challengers to Infantino. These candidates include:
- Aleksander Ceferin: The president of UEFA, who has been in his role since 2016, is seen by some UEFA member associations as a qualified candidate. While he initially ruled out a third term, he is reportedly willing to seek re-election if no other candidates emerge.
- Nasser Al-Khelaifi: The president of Paris Saint-Germain and chairman of Qatar Sports Investment, holds several senior positions in football. He was elevated to lead European Football Clubs after the collapse of the European Super League. Multiple UEFA federations, including Belgium and Poland, are reported to back Al-Khelaifi, though he has stated no ambition or interest in the FIFA role.
- Dariusz Mioduski: The owner of Legia Warsaw, a Polish lawyer, has been suggested by officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Spain. However, Poland’s FA reportedly prefers Al-Khelaifi.
- Victor Montagliani: The president of Concacaf, who was re-elected in 2023, has known ambitions to become FIFA president. Reports suggest he is making moves to expedite his aspirations and challenge Infantino.
- Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa: The president of the AFC and senior vice-president of the FIFA Council, publicly opposed Infantino’s plans, calling the lack of consultation “totally unacceptable.” His term as AFC president concludes in 2027.
- Arsene Wenger: The former Arsenal manager, now FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, is considered a long shot but is increasingly involved in the political aspects of the game.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
UEFA has welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the plan to sell a stake in its competitions, including the World Cup. The organization stated that the proposal was unanimously rejected by its national associations and many other federations and confederations globally, whose role is to protect football.
UEFA highlighted that when Infantino was elected in 2016, he promised transparency and that FIFA’s money would serve the development of football. UEFA believes he has failed on both promises, citing the FFE plan as opaque and noting that FIFA’s reserves, reportedly over $5bn, have not been adequately used for the benefit of the game. UEFA plans to work with its associations and other confederations to review how the FFE situation occurred and to ensure it does not happen again.
The FA, which has consistently condemned the FFE scheme, has called for a full review of FIFA’s leadership and governance. The withdrawal of support from national associations is seen as a move to gather momentum against Infantino, with the hope that opposition will also grow in other continents, particularly within the AFC and Concacaf, where opinions on his reign have been more varied.
The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun.
Source: independent.co.uk