As recently as mid-July, Gianni Infantino was widely anticipated to secure a fourth term as FIFA president, a position he’d navigated with relative ease, largely unchallenged by opposition. However, a confluence of events has dramatically altered this trajectory, painting a starkly divided map of support and opposition amongst 210 member associations. The world is now far from unified regarding Infantino’s future.
To illustrate this division, BBC Sport has meticulously mapped the apparent views of all 210 member associations, revealing a dynamic landscape where countries have publicly voiced their support or opposition to Infantino, while others directly communicated their stance through continental confederation bodies. Unlike the once-assured trajectory of a fourth term, Infantino now faces a potential battle for re-election if a unity candidate emerges to oppose him. The current tally suggests 73 in favor of Infantino, 124 against, and 13 undecided, a figure poised for considerable change in the months ahead.
This shift is fueled by a significant backlash against Infantino’s abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors. The world is grappling with a sense of uncertainty regarding Infantino’s continued leadership. Trump has expressed his concerns about Infantino’s tenure, with several European countries, including England and Wales, formally withdrawing letters of support. The European governing bodies Uefa, Concacaf, and AFC have jointly issued a letter accusing Infantino and FIFA of ‘deception,’ signaling a significant coalition of dissent within these regional confederations.
Asia, in particular, is a key area of contention. While the current tally shows 73 in favor of Infantino, 124 against, and 13 undecided, this picture is fluid and likely to evolve. A unity candidate is now a viable challenge, and the potential for a direct contest between Infantino and a challenger is a significant concern.
Fifa’s election votes between two candidates require a simple majority – each candidate would need a total of 106 votes to win. Currently, there are three or more candidates, and if no winner emerges, a second-round election is required, with a simple majority needed.
Europe has 55 votes, Africa 54, Asia 46, North America 35, Oceania 11, and South America 10. However, while the current tally appears to be 73 in favor of Infantino, 124 against, and 13 undecided, this picture is fluid and is likely to change in the months ahead. The current situation is a direct consequence of emerging splits within confederations, the possibility of key players declaring their position, and the lack of a clear candidate to challenge Infantino.
Infantino has shown no desire to step down, yet a potential crisis could arise if FIFA Council members attempt to force his resignation at an emergency meeting.
Historically, other confederations have been angered by European dominance of football, its competitions, and its wealth. This concern has fueled Concacaf president Victor Montagliani’s focus as a potential challenger, and the United States and Canada have supported this approach. The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has yet to make any public comment.
Infantino has broken trust through deception – confederation presidents.
If Infantino goes, who might replace him as FIFA president?
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Source: BBC Football
