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Pressure on Gianni Infantino is mounting, as several European federations are considering backing a candidate in the upcoming FIFA presidential election.
Infantino confirmed at the FIFA Congress in April that he will seek a third term and aims to be re-elected unopposed. However, talkSPORT reports that there is support within UEFA for other candidates.
Tensions after the Balogun affair
The debate has been further fueled by the revelation that Infantino received a call from US President Donald Trump, who asked him to review the red card of US striker Folarin Balogun. The player's suspension was subsequently overturned and he was fit for the round of 16 match against Belgium.
UEFA reacted sharply, accusing FIFA of having “crossed a red line.” Infantino defended himself by stressing that the decision was made by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, which acts independently. However, FIFA has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the reasons for the decision.
Who can challenge Infantino?
The most talked-about name is that of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, but the Slovenian is expected to continue in his current position and does not seek a direct confrontation with Infantino, despite previous clashes between them.
For this reason, several European federations, including Belgium and Poland, are looking at PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi as an alternative. However, according to reports, he has no ambition to run and would need a lot of convincing to enter the race.
Legia Warsaw owner Dariusz Mioduski, who enjoys the support of several football leaders in Bosnia, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Spain, has also been mentioned in the discussions. If Al-Khelaifi does not run, Poland is expected to support Mioduski.
Other names on the scene
Outside of UEFA, CONCACAF president Victor Montaliani and CAF president Patrice Motsepe are also mentioned as possible candidates.
Sources close to Montaliani say his current focus is on re-election to CONCACAF, but he is known to have ambitions to lead FIFA in the future. Motsepe, meanwhile, is considered a close ally of Infantino and is more likely to wait until 2031, when the Swiss will no longer be eligible to run.
Why is it difficult to challenge Infantino?
One of the main obstacles for European federations is the fact that Infantino's plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams, as well as expanding the Club World Cup to take place every two years, enjoy broad support from African, Asian and CONCACAF federations.
There are currently no signs of a no-confidence motion against Infantino. Most federations see the election itself as a vote of confidence, so more and more UEFA members are looking for an alternative candidate, so that the current president does not receive a new mandate without a real debate.
When are the elections held?
Candidacies for the FIFA presidential election can be submitted until November 18, while voting will take place on November 18 in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. " talkSPORT ", adapted into Albanian Pamphlet
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