Gianni Infantino has received the formal backing of over 200 nations for his re-election as FIFA president, despite ongoing unrest linked to the Folarin Balogun suspension scandal.
Reports indicate that only a few of FIFA’s 211 member associations have yet to submit letters of support. Infantino appears set to secure a fourth term by a significant margin at the congress scheduled for March. Among the few holdouts are some European nations, with Germany being the most notable federation yet to officially endorse him.
By November 18, candidates must be nominated, and letters of support can also be retracted or redirected to other candidates. However, Infantino stands as the sole contender, leading some football associations to feel ongoing pressure from within FIFA to affirm their support. This situation raises concerns as FIFA’s ethics code ostensibly prohibits such coercion.
It would take a substantial political shift to unseat Infantino. Although there is lingering dissatisfaction following Donald Trump’s admission of lobbying FIFA regarding Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, most discontent is confined to European federations and related organizations. Infantino does not require European backing to secure a commanding mandate, and, in fact, most European associations have already confirmed their support for his candidacy. The English FA, for instance, submitted its letter well before the World Cup.
In recent days, discussions about a Europe-backed candidate challenging Infantino have gained traction, but the likelihood of multiple federations rallying around a single name seems low.
Uefa has voiced its dissent against FIFA on several recent matters, including the Balogun controversy and the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan from the World Cup. However, it remains uncertain whether UEFA’s leadership would formally back a challenger in the election. Some insiders within European football believe that a candidate capable of securing 30 to 40 votes could at least spark a meaningful public discourse regarding FIFA’s governance and future direction.
FIFA’s member associations are set to meet in New York on Saturday; however, with Infantino presiding over the session, it is unlikely that recent scandals will be addressed in the agenda. Instead, the focus will likely shift to the financial outcomes of the World Cup and any resulting advantages for the federations.
FIFA was contacted for comment.
