Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, has confirmed he will not run against Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election.
The Electoral Landscape and Upcoming Vote
Gianni Infantino is scheduled to stand for a fourth term as FIFA president in March, an election that had previously been anticipated to run unopposed. Infantino first assumed the presidency in 2016 when he secured 115 votes to defeat Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa, who received 88 votes. National football associations around the world, including several within Europe, had previously indicated their intention to support the 56-year-old Swiss administrator.
While reports had circulated regarding potential challengers, the decision by Ceferin not to run against the incumbent removes a prominent European opponent to Infantino’s re-election. Historically, sitting FIFA presidents are not challenged in elections. The last president to lose an election was Englishman Sir Stanley Rous, who was defeated by Brazilian Joao Havelange in 1974.
Confederation Divisions and Consultation Backlash
The upcoming vote arrives amid friction between global football leadership and several regional confederations. UEFA’s emergency meeting, held on a Thursday, captured a mood of significant frustration among European officials regarding a lack of consultation and dialogue from Infantino over new proposals. The prevailing atmosphere at the gathering was characterized directly by a source as one of “anger.”
Concacaf, the governing body for football in North and Central America, followed UEFA’s lead by issuing a statement confirming that its 41 member associations had rejected the proposals. Furthermore, sources indicated that a vast majority of Concacaf members are either losing faith in Infantino’s ability to govern the sport or have lost confidence entirely.
National associations moved quickly to align their stances. Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, serving as a FIFA vice-president, voiced opposition to the plans during the UEFA emergency meeting. The FA stated that it stands “shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues.” Similarly, Scottish FA president Mike Mulraney—who also chairs FIFA’s finance committee—noted that the Scottish FA “agrees unequivocally” with UEFA’s position.
FIFA’s Response and Governance Debates
In response to the public opposition, FIFA released an official statement asserting that the consultation process over the proposals “was disrupted by incorrect media reports.” The governing body added: “We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation… Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”
The fallout has sparked wider discussions among former administrators regarding structural reform. Former FA chairman David Bernstein told BBC Sport that in a standard corporate environment, a leader facing a crisis of this magnitude would likely be ousted, though he acknowledged that “FIFA is not a normal organisation” and noted that Infantino could continue if he retains the backing of enough national associations. Former UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson suggested to the BBC that Infantino’s position could be in trouble and proposed that FIFA implement reform where the presidency circulates around figures from different confederations.
Discussions regarding alternative leadership candidates touched upon Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi due to his role as chairman of European Football Clubs. However, sources close to the 52-year-old Qatari administrator confirmed that he “genuinely, genuinely, genuinely doesn’t want the job.”
What Comes Next
The electoral cycle moves toward the vote in March, where member associations will cast their votes.
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