Leading football confederations worldwide are discussing the possibility of declaring a vote of no confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino, seeking to remove him from office, according to high-ranking sources familiar with the discussions.
UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF are believed to be considering such a move. They have previously opposed Infantino following his proposal to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial ventures to private investors, particularly those related to the World Cup.
“There is no way out,” one source told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions. “Either he leaves peacefully and decides not to run in March, or a tough path will be chosen,” the source added, referring to a possible vote of no confidence.
According to FIFA’s statutes, the FIFA Council can convene an Extraordinary Congress at any time. It is also obligated to do so if at least one-fifth of the 211 member associations of FIFA submit a written request specifying the issues to be included on the agenda. Such a congress must be convened within three months, with each participating association having one vote. However, FIFA’s statutes do not contain specific provisions regarding a vote of no confidence in the president.
FIFA did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment. UEFA did not directly comment on the possibility of a vote of no confidence but referred to its previous statement that the review of FIFA’s leadership and governance system should be “thorough and fundamental” and that “no option should be excluded.” CONCACAF also refrained from direct comment, referring to a previous joint statement with UEFA and AFC in which FIFA’s leadership was accused of a “fundamental breach of trust.” AFC did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request.
FIFA presidential elections approaching
Infantino has stated that he intends to run for re-election at the planned FIFA Congress in March 2027. At the same time, he retains significant support among FIFA member associations, particularly from the African confederation CAF.
FIFA has apologized to its member associations for mistakes made during the consideration of the investment proposal. Last week, six Arab football associations, including Qatar and co-host Morocco of the 2030 World Cup, publicly supported Infantino. FIFA’s leadership also confirmed its full support for the president after a crisis meeting in Morocco earlier this month.
A high-ranking source close to the situation told Reuters that, while the three confederations support the idea of a vote of no confidence, there are concerns that a failed attempt to remove Infantino could, on the contrary, strengthen his position, demonstrate the preservation of electoral support and bolster his position ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
Infantino has come under strong pressure after the failure of his proposal to sell a minority stake in FIFA’s new commercial structure to private investors. This structure was to control the commercial rights to the World Cup — the main tournament of world football.
FIFA states that its revenues for the 2023–2026 cycle are expected to exceed $15 billion, with the bulk of this amount to be received in 2026, when the World Cup will be held.
Three of the six continental confederations of FIFA — UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF — have opposed this proposal and have since sharply criticized Infantino’s actions, citing problems with transparency, consultations and governance.
The crisis deepened this week after the departure of FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who criticized the investment proposal and said that employees had been “misled” about what he called a “one-man project.” FIFA did not specify the reason for his departure. FIFA Vice President Sandor Csanyi this week withdrew his support for Infantino, saying that Lamour’s departure was the “last straw.”
Infantino retains the support of CAF, but his opponents face significant obstacles. No candidate has publicly announced their candidacy by the nomination deadline of November 18, and Infantino continues to enjoy the support of some FIFA members. CAF President Patrice Motsepe said last week that Infantino continues to have the support of Africa, and his future should be decided by FIFA members in the elections.
According to the rejected investment proposal, football associations could have received up to $20 million in one-time funding for infrastructure, coach training, national teams, competitions, grassroots football development and women’s football.
Influence of clubs could increase pressure
Pressure on Infantino is also coming from organizations beyond those with voting rights in FIFA. The European Football Clubs (EFC), led by Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi and representing over 800 clubs, are coordinating their actions with UEFA and other parties seeking changes in FIFA, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
EFC has warned FIFA that its members may refuse to participate in future men’s and women’s Club World Cups if their grievances regarding the organization’s governance and the relationship between clubs and FIFA are not addressed. Clubs do not have voting rights in FIFA but wield significant sporting and commercial influence.
Michael Payne, former head of the marketing department of the International Olympic Committee, said that even Infantino’s victory in the elections would not necessarily resolve the differences. “It’s very good to barely get 51 percent of the votes thanks to many small countries, but to have all the football superpowers against you. How do you then run the organization?” Payne told Reuters.
No FIFA sponsor has publicly criticized Infantino over the crisis. “Sponsors are raising their eyebrows and asking: ‘How can you hold such a successful World Cup and then shoot yourself in the foot?'” Payne noted.
Source: Al Jazeera
