Infantino’s Position Under Scrutiny
Fifa president Gianni Infantino is scheduled to meet with senior leaders of football’s global governing body. This meeting follows intensified criticism of his now-scrapped plan to sell off Fifa‘s commercial and event operations. The gathering is understood to be taking place at Fifa‘s Africa office in Rabat, Morocco.
The meeting includes secretary general Mattias Grafstrom and members of the Fifa management board. Among those expected to attend are finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson. The intention of the meeting remains unclear, but it is anticipated that Infantino will aim to mend relationships and secure his presidency.
Reports suggest Infantino has been in Salé, Morocco, this week, attempting to salvage his position. His aides have reportedly been contacting Fifa Legends, who are paid ex-player ambassadors for the organisation, to encourage public support for the president. However, one such ambassador, Luís Figo, publicly condemned Infantino‘s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, describing it as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.”
Mounting Opposition and Key Questions
The criticism against Infantino has grown, with leaders from Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation reportedly mobilising. A “governance boycott,” where members refuse to attend meetings or ratify Fifa decisions, is one consideration. Another option being discussed is a rival World Cup-style competition, which would effectively signify a secession.
Arsene Wenger, chief of global football development, stated he was “not involved” in Infantino‘s Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, adding that its cancellation was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.” Furthermore, Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, accused Fifa of creating a situation amounting to “blackmail” concerning unpaid prize money and support for Infantino‘s re-election.
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino‘s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned over the plan, calling it “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.” Cordeiro highlighted several unanswered questions regarding the deal, including its necessity, oversight, beneficiaries, and the competitive process involved. Member associations were given a deadline of 19 September to approve the plan to avoid missing out on additional funding.
Potential Paths Forward
Despite the significant opposition, it appears unlikely that Infantino will resign immediately. He has shown no indication of relinquishing his position and has been working to gather support from his core base globally. Several African nations, including Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and DR Congo, have issued statements in support of Infantino.
Should Infantino choose to continue, Uefa and other confederations may explore alternative methods to remove him. One possibility is for the Fifa Council to force an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of the 37 council members to call for it. However, there are doubts about achieving the necessary votes.
Another avenue is an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations, which could be convened if one-fifth, or 43 associations, submit a written request. Uefa, with its 55 nations, has the capacity to trigger such a congress. This process would take a minimum of two months, or more likely three, and would require 106 votes to pass a vote of no confidence against Infantino.
The Concacaf president, Victor Montagliani, is seen as a potential unity candidate to challenge Infantino in an election at the Fifa Congress. Infantino ran unopposed in his re-elections in 2019 and 2023. The current situation suggests that this story could continue to develop for some time.
Source: theguardian.com
