UEFA Sets Criteria for Candidate to Challenge Infantino in FIFA Election
Theo Al Jazeera English
UEFA has published the qualities it wants in a candidate to challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in the March election, stressing the need for a unifying figure who would not wield executive power. The criteria were agreed at a meeting of UEFA's 55 member federations in Berlin, where officials also confirmed President Aleksander Ceferin will seek a final term — and said the challenger may not be European.
The European soccer body UEFA has published the criteria it wants in a candidate who could replace Gianni Infantino at the helm of FIFA: "a respected and unifying figure, with a deep connection to football."
According to UEFA, that candidate must "represent FIFA globally and assume a leadership role without exercising executive management functions." The statement came on Thursday after a meeting of UEFA's 55 member federations aimed at shaping a strategy to find a challenger to Infantino before the Nov. 18 deadline.
No specific names of potential candidates were discussed at Thursday's meeting. European soccer officials said the candidate would not be UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, and might not be a European either, given the need to court votes from FIFA's 211 member federations worldwide.
Ceferin, however, used the occasion to confirm he will seek a fourth and final term on April 22 next year in Astana, Kazakhstan. Like Ceferin, Infantino was elected in 2016 and is eyeing a fourth term running through 2031.
The Slovenian lawyer Ceferin has led the effort by global soccer officials since July to remove Infantino from a presidency that has grown increasingly presidential in style, either before or at the FIFA election on March 18 next year in Rabat, Morocco.
Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors — which was rolled out discreetly and quickly shut down — pushed UEFA's long-simmering concerns about FIFA's projects and governance to the point of racing to field an opposing candidate.
"FIFA also needs new leadership: a respected and unifying figure, with a deep connection to football, the vision and experience to lead, the ability to build trust across regions, and a clear commitment to development, reform, integrity and independence," UEFA said in a statement after an all-day meeting in Berlin.
UEFA also restated its previous commitment that all FIFA members should receive a one-time dividend of 10 million USD from the body's reserves.
FIFA's cash reserves now stand at nearly 6 billion USD after a lucrative men's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
UEFA raises concerns about 'interference by the executive' at FIFA
Amid doubts over the integrity of several FIFA decisions related to the World Cup, UEFA's reform wish list stresses that "the appointment and operation of FIFA's oversight bodies must be protected from interference by the president or the executive."
The way FIFA handled red-card cases or the playing conditions of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, United States striker Folarin Balogun and Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi has raised concerns worldwide.
Concerns about Infantino intervening in on-field matters date back to FIFA adding Lionel Messi's Inter Miami to the 2025 Club World Cup even though the team was not Major League Soccer champion, and after an unclear consultation or decision-making process.
UEFA said the FIFA reform list was backed by all members except Azerbaijan — a country that has pledged its vote to Infantino. One of Infantino's key assistants in his global election campaign also comes from Azerbaijan.
In what appeared to be a pointed hint, UEFA's reform list includes the line: "FIFA resources must not be used for personal benefit or electoral purposes."
Infantino reminds African voters of FIFA money
While UEFA shapes its strategy against Infantino, the former long-serving UEFA official was in Cape Verde, receiving a standing ovation at a meeting of the 54 African FIFA member federations.
The applause was prompted by FIFA Vice President Patrice Motsepe from members of the Confederation of African Football, which he leads.
Minutes earlier, Infantino had reminded the voters of FIFA's investments in African soccer since he was elected in February 2016.
"With the FIFA Forward program, in 10 years we have invested 1 billion USD in Africa, including 500 million USD in the last four years. There are 124 different projects and many other actions," Infantino said. "Of course, we need to continue on this path, together."
Vega again wants to be a FIFA presidential candidate
One person who said this week that he wants to run against Infantino is former Switzerland and Tottenham defender Ramon Vega.
It would be Vega's second attempt to challenge Infantino, after he failed to secure the support of the five member federations required to get on the ballot in 2019.
It is unclear whether Vega meets the requirement of having held a recognized football role for at least two of the past five years.
