Gianni Infantino has secured the formal backing of over 200 nations for his re-election as FIFA president, despite ongoing unrest stemming from the Folarin Balogun suspension scandal.
Sources indicate that only a few of FIFA’s 211 member associations have yet to submit letters of support for Infantino, who is poised to be re-elected in March with a significant majority. A handful of European federations remain among the holdouts, with Germany being the most notable federation yet to offer its official endorsement.
Candidates must be nominated by November 18, a deadline by which letters of support can also be rescinded or redirected to another candidate. Currently, Infantino is the sole candidate, and some football associations have expressed feeling pressured by FIFA to affirm their support, which theoretically contravenes FIFA’s ethics guidelines.
Infantino’s position appears unshakeable; it would require a substantial political upheaval to unseat him. Although there is lingering discontent following Donald Trump’s admission of lobbying FIFA to reconsider Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the majority of the dissent is concentrated within European football associations and related entities. Infantino is not reliant on European backing to achieve a commanding mandate, and most of the continent’s federations have already confirmed their support. The English Football Association has been proactive in sending its letter of endorsement well ahead of the World Cup.
Discussions regarding a potential candidate from Europe to challenge Infantino have gained traction behind closed doors in recent days, but the likelihood of multiple federations agreeing on a single name seems slim.
UEFA has publicly expressed its opposition to FIFA on various recent issues, including the Balogun incident and the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan from the World Cup. However, it remains uncertain whether the governing body would officially endorse a challenger for the upcoming election. Some insiders in European football believe that a candidate capable of securing 30 or 40 votes could at least initiate a meaningful public dialogue about FIFA’s governance and future direction.
FIFA’s member associations are scheduled to meet in New York on Saturday. However, with Infantino leading the meeting, it is unlikely that recent scandals will be on the agenda. Instead, discussions will probably center on the financial outcomes of the World Cup and the potential benefits that could be extended to the associations.
FIFA was contacted for a comment.
