Gianni Infantino has garnered the formal backing of more than 200 nations for his re-election as FIFA President, despite ongoing unrest following the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s recent suspension reversal.
Reports indicate that only a small number of FIFA’s 211 member associations have yet to submit letters of support for Infantino, who is poised to win a fourth term by a significant margin at the upcoming congress in March. Among the few associations that have not backed him, Germany stands out as the most notable absence of support.
Candidates must be nominated by November 18, and during this period, endorsements can be retracted or shifted to another candidate. Nonetheless, Infantino remains the sole contender, leading some associations to feel ongoing pressure from FIFA to affirm their allegiance, which theoretically should not be allowed under FIFA’s ethical guidelines.
It would take a major political upheaval to unseat Infantino. While there is lingering dissatisfaction following Donald Trump’s admission of lobbying FIFA regarding Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, most of this discontent is concentrated among European associations and related organizations. Infantino does not need European backing to secure a commanding mandate, and in fact, the majority of European associations have already expressed their support for his re-election. The English FA is among those that have sent their endorsement well ahead of the World Cup.
In recent days, discussions about a candidate backed by Europe to challenge Infantino have gained traction behind closed doors, but the likelihood of multiple federations agreeing on a single name appears slim.
UEFA has publicly expressed its opposition to FIFA on several matters, including the Balogun incident and the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan from the World Cup. However, it remains uncertain whether UEFA’s leadership would formally endorse a rival candidate in the election. Some insiders within European football believe a candidate capable of securing 30 to 40 votes could at least initiate a meaningful public discourse about FIFA’s governance and future direction.
FIFA’s member associations are scheduled to meet in New York on Saturday, but with Infantino presiding over the gathering, it is unlikely that recent scandals will be discussed. More probable agenda items include the financial outcomes of the World Cup and potential benefits that could be relayed to the associations.
FIFA was contacted for a comment.
