UEFA Considers Candidate to Challenge Infantino

Calls are growing among UEFA federations to support a candidate who can challenge Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections.

Infantino confirmed his intention to run for a third term during FIFA's April congress, hoping his re-election would be unopposed.

However, journalist Ben Jacobs claims there is significant support within UEFA for alternative candidates.

This development follows a World Cup scandal where Infantino reportedly received a call from US President Donald Trump, requesting a review of American striker Folarin Balogun's red card, which was subsequently overturned. UEFA reacted with a strong statement, accusing FIFA of "crossing a red line."

Infantino countered by emphasizing the independence of FIFA's disciplinary committee, which made the decision that allowed Balogun to play in the Round of 16 loss to Belgium.

However, beyond a reference to "discretion," neither FIFA nor its disciplinary committee has offered a more detailed explanation for the decision.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin would be the most qualified candidate, but the Slovenian lawyer is reportedly set to continue in his current role as UEFA president next spring.

He initially ruled out running for a third full term until 2031 but is now prepared to seek re-election if no other candidates emerge.

Čeferin is not seeking a direct confrontation with Infantino, despite their disagreements on several issues.

As a result, numerous UEFA federations, including Belgium and Poland, would support PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi's candidacy in the next elections.

Jacobs suggests that the chairman of the European Club Association has no such ambitions to run, so significant persuasion would be required.

Senior football officials in Bosnia, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Spain have reportedly discussed backing other European candidates, including Legia owner Dariusz Mioduski.

If Al-Khelaifi decides not to run, which is the current expectation, Poland would also back Mioduski.

Outside of UEFA, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is being mentioned as a potential successor to Infantino.

Sources close to Montagliani state his focus is on his re-election as CONCACAF president, but it is widely known that the Canadian harbors aspirations to one day become FIFA president.

Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football, is another name with intentions to lead FIFA in the future.

The South African administrator is unlikely to challenge his close ally Infantino, preferring instead to wait until 2031, hoping to gain support in an election where Infantino would be ineligible to run again.

The challenge for UEFA federations looking to oppose Infantino is that his proposed plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams, as well as the expansion of the Club World Cup and its biennial staging, are widely supported by members of CAF, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation.

There also appears to be no desire to bring a vote of no confidence against Infantino, despite this idea being discussed at the last FIFA congress.

Most federations will simply view the elections themselves as a vote of confidence, which is why an increasing number of UEFA members hope to support another candidate to prevent Infantino from winning another term without genuine debate.

Nominations for the next FIFA presidential elections can be submitted until November 18, with the elections scheduled to take place on the same date in Rabat, Morocco.