European football leaders confident of finding candidate to stand against Infantino
European football leaders say they are increasingly confident they can find a candidate to challenge Gianni Infantino in Fifa’s presidential election next March. Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation oppose his re-election, but have yet to agree on a contender, amid concerns that Fifa’s organisation is being used to support his campaign.
The deadline for nominations is 18 November, and those backing a challenge expect their candidate to wait until close to that date to declare, limiting the time for Fifa to obstruct a nomination. Potential contenders mentioned include Luis Figo, while the three confederation presidents and figures such as Arsène Wenger and Michele Kang have ruled themselves out or been dismissed. At Thursday’s meeting, Infantino is due to face questions about the abandoned Fifa Forward Enterprise plan, the peace prize and the decision to overturn US striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension.
- European leaders expect Infantino to face a challenger in March.
- Uefa and two other confederations oppose his re-election.
- The nomination deadline is 18 November.
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Fifa is the international body that governs football and organises the men’s and women’s World Cups. Its president leads the organisation and is elected by representatives of national football associations.
Uefa represents European football, Concacaf covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, and the Asian Football Confederation represents much of Asia. Their leaders have influence in Fifa, but a presidential candidate needs support from national associations across the world to win.
The election matters because Fifa makes decisions about how the game is run and how money from major tournaments is distributed. The nomination deadline sets when candidates must formally put themselves forward.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those seeking a challenger can argue that Fifa’s leadership should face a credible electoral contest, especially when several confederations have concerns about Infantino’s re-election campaign and the use of the organisation’s resources. A late nomination could give a candidate time to build support while reducing the risk of obstruction, and scrutiny of recent decisions may help ensure accountability.
The case against
Supporters of Infantino’s re-election could argue that continuity offers stability for Fifa and that a challenger should emerge through a clear, timely process with a compelling alternative programme. The reported concerns and disagreements do not by themselves establish that the organisation has been misused, while a late declaration could leave voters with limited time to assess candidates and their plans.