European football leaders gathered in Berlin to map out an organized challenge against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin confirmed he will reverse his previous decision to step down and run for a fourth term in office.
Berlin Summit Sets Up FIFA Leadership Challenge
European football leaders meeting in Berlin agreed on a coordinated reform package aimed at the leadership of the international governing body. According to reports from German media outlets including Süddeutsche Zeitung, all 55 UEFA member associations except Azerbaijan backed the proposals during the summit.
The opposition bloc intends to present the reform package at the FIFA Council meeting scheduled for October 15. The measures target institutional governance, decision-making structures, accountability controls, and the distribution of FIFA funds.
German Football Association (DFB) President Bernd Neuendorf stated that the person currently at the top of the international body must be replaced. Neuendorf expressed doubt that credible reforms could occur under the existing administration.
UEFA communicated that national associations have lost confidence in the current FIFA administration. The governing body stated that institutional reforms alone are insufficient, calling for a connecting personality with deep roots in football to take over the organization.
Ceferin Reverses Course to Seek Fourth UEFA Term
Amid the broader political maneuvering against the world governing body, Aleksander Ceferin announced that he will stand for re-election as UEFA President. The 58-year-old Slovenian administrator informed the chiefs of UEFA’s 55 member associations in Berlin that he will run at the upcoming congress on April 22, 2027, in Astana, Kazakhstan.
UEFA confirmed that national associations unanimously asked Ceferin to reconsider his initial choice not to run again. Ceferin accepted the request, stating that his objective remains to unite European football and strengthen the sport for future generations.
This decision follows a prior announcement at the UEFA Congress in Paris two years ago, where Ceferin indicated he would not seek another term. Discussions regarding a statute amendment subsequently altered the term limit framework, ensuring his initial 2016 to 2019 tenure following Michel Platini’s resignation did not count toward the three-term restriction.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf expressed strong support for the decision, noting that having a courageous and integral leader at the helm of European football is essential for pursuing institutional interests.
Opposition Seeks Candidate to Challenge Infantino in 2027
As the opposition movement seeks an alternative candidate to challenge Gianni Infantino at the FIFA presidential election in March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco, several names have emerged in international discussions.
Victor Montagliani, head of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), have both been mentioned as potential figures in the leadership discussions. However, reports noted that Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has recently moved closer to Infantino.
The nomination deadline for alternative candidates is set for November 18. UEFA plans to convene another meeting prior to November 17 to address the candidate selection process.
Infantino faced mounting pressure following a failed investor project but countered some criticism by indicating a willingness to implement reforms and distribute payments from FIFA reserves to member associations.
FIFA and UEFA Set Leadership Election Deadlines
The timeline for leadership decisions across European and international football stretches toward the spring of 2027. The FIFA Council meeting on October 15 will serve as the next major checkpoint for UEFA’s governance proposals.
With the nomination deadline for alternative FIFA candidates falling on November 18, regional confederations face a tight window to solidify an opposition candidate against Infantino.
Ceferin’s path to a fourth and final term at UEFA remains uncontested, with the election formally scheduled for the UEFA Congress in Astana on April 22, 2027.
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