Claudius Schaefer, chairman of the European Leagues, said on August 25 that Gianni Infantino has no future at FIFA, stressing the need to reform world football's governing body and hold its president accountable.
In an interview with The Athletic published on Wednesday, Schaefer said European Leagues – the organization representing 53 professional men's and women's leagues – is deeply concerned about Infantino's leadership.
“We question his suitability to continue as president. In Switzerland, we have a close-up view of FIFA, and it seems the president's influence grows every year,” Schaefer said. “Major decisions are made without meaningful consultation with stakeholders, and that will have consequences.”
Schaefer's comments come amid sharp tensions between football governing bodies, sparked by a now-abandoned proposal to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.
Infantino is under pressure from three continental confederations – UEFA (Europe), AFC (Asia), and CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean) – all calling for his resignation. Regional bodies have also discussed the possibility of a no-confidence vote against the FIFA president.
Concerns have also been raised over the inaugural FIFA Peace Award, given to U.S. President Donald Trump in December, and the lifting of a suspension on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during this year's World Cup following a call from the Republican leader.
“FIFA is an association under Swiss law, and within this association there are rules. The president and board members must carry out their duties with due care. This is a legal matter,” Schaefer said.
“If such a decision (the peace award) is made without informing the board, in my view that is a violation of the law. And in the World Cup, we all know about the red card issue.
“That is a real scandal. I cannot recall any political interference of this kind in sporting matters. Such actions call into question the integrity of the game. That is why Infantino has no future at FIFA. There is no way,” he stressed.
Infantino is expected to seek a fourth term next year and could face strong opposition. However, Schaefer argued that redefining the role of the FIFA president matters more than finding a replacement.
“For us, achieving reforms is the most important task, and they can only happen with a different president,” he added.
