German Football Association (DFB) President Bernd Neuendorf called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be shown a red card and removed from office during an interview with the Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, setting up a high-stakes confrontation ahead of a scheduled European football meeting in the German capital.
Berlin Summit Brings 55 European Associations Together
The remarks from the DFB leadership arrive immediately ahead of a crucial summit in Berlin, where representatives from all 55 European national associations are meeting with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. The gathering has been widely labeled by observers as an anti-Infantino summit. Joining Neuendorf to represent German football at the meetings are Hans-Joachim Watzke and Holger Blask.
The meeting centers on how European associations might coordinate their stance ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for next March. While UEFA President Čeferin recently remarked to club representatives in Copenhagen that “the emperor is naked”—alluding to Infantino’s waning standing—Infantino retains substantial financial backing, highlighted by Latvian Football President Vadims Lyashenko publicly pledging his support in Riga just one week prior.
DFB Leadership Confirms Unanimous Opposition
Neuendorf confirmed that the DFB executive committee has reached an unanimous decision not to cast its vote for Infantino in the upcoming election. Declaring that Infantino is no longer tenable as FIFA president, Neuendorf stated that the incumbent leader has severely harmed the sport and forfeited all trust through his handling of recent global tournaments.
Specifically, Neuendorf pointed to controversies surrounding the refereeing treatment of American player Folarin Balogun during the past World Cup, alongside Infantino’s previously floated and subsequently shelved investor plans.
The Difficult Search for an Alternative Candidate
Potential opposing candidates face a strict deadline of November 18 to officially enter the race.
Neuendorf acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding whether the Berlin meetings will yield immediate breakthroughs on a united challenger. While the DFB chief previously hinted at imminent major decisions regarding an opposing candidate, he adopted a more cautious tone in Berlin, noting that the summit might provide clearer direction moving forward. The current hesitation stems either from a genuine scarcity of willing contenders or from a deliberate strategy to keep challenger names confidential until the filing deadline approaches.
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