Will anyone topple Infantino? How Fifa president is trying to cling on after World Cup sell-off debacle
Fifa president continues to lobby for re-election despite no other candidates coming forward to challenge him
TL;DR
- Fifa President Gianni Infantino is campaigning for re-election in March, with no opponents having declared their candidacy.
- Infantino has been traveling globally, often using Qatar Airways private jets, and his trips have coincided with the approval of development project funding.
- UEFA is pursuing legal action against Fifa in US courts, accusing the organization of "criminal mismanagement" regarding the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) sale.
- The FFE deal, potentially valued at $20 billion, is under scrutiny for alleged undervaluation and lack of transparency.
- Legal discovery processes are expected to take time, possibly extending beyond the Fifa presidential election date.
- Despite UEFA's efforts and calls for Infantino to go from various confederations, the prevailing view is that he remains steadfastly supported by a silent majority of member associations.
- Victor Montagliani, president of Concacaf, is considered a credible challenger but is committed to his own re-election, making a dual candidacy unlikely.
- UEFA's hope is that the discovery process will reveal evidence of wrongdoing, potentially leading to Infantino's removal, similar to his predecessor Sepp Blatter.
- Fifa has responded strongly to UEFA's legal complaint, accusing them of a smear campaign without evidence.
- UEFA and Concacaf are working together on initiatives like the Nations League and demanding Fifa release reserves for member associations.