Infantino faces growing opposition ahead of FIFA election in Rabat

Yesterday 12:30

By: Azzat Manal

Infantino faces growing opposition ahead of FIFA election in Rabat

Gianni Infantino is facing growing criticism from parts of the international football community ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, although no challenger has yet emerged with enough support to mount a broad campaign against him.

The Swiss-Italian administrator is seeking another term at the head of world football’s governing body. The election will bring together representatives of FIFA’s 211 member associations, making it necessary for any rival candidate to build support well beyond Europe.

Tensions intensified after FIFA abandoned its controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have involved private investors in the commercial rights of major competitions. The initiative triggered strong opposition from UEFA and other football bodies, contributing to a deterioration in relations between Infantino and some senior officials.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has emerged as one of Infantino’s most outspoken critics, but he has not entered the presidential race. The European confederation has instead been seeking a candidate capable of attracting support from several continents, a challenge made more difficult by concerns in other regions about increasing European influence within FIFA. Reuters reported in September that no challenger had yet secured the support needed to seriously contest Infantino.

Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, has been discussed as a possible alternative because of his position outside Europe and his network across international football. However, he has not formally declared his candidacy. Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, another name considered capable of building a broad coalition, has also ruled himself out of the race.

The lack of an officially declared heavyweight challenger has led some of Infantino’s opponents to consider whether their efforts should focus not only on the election but also on changing FIFA’s governance structure. Questions about transparency, decision-making and the distribution of power within the organization have become increasingly prominent.

Infantino has responded by proposing an independent review of FIFA’s governance framework and consultations with the 211 member associations on possible reforms. The proposal followed the backlash over the abandoned investment project and is expected to remain part of the debate surrounding FIFA’s leadership.

The dispute has also moved into the legal arena. UEFA has sought documents in the United States connected to the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, while criticism of FIFA’s governance has continued from individual national associations. The Norwegian Football Association, for example, filed complaints with FIFA committees in October over several recent decisions and called for greater scrutiny of the organization’s governance and oversight mechanisms.

At the same time, Infantino continues to receive public backing from football bodies outside Europe. The Union of Arab Football Associations, representing 22 national federations, expressed support for his re-election earlier this month. Morocco and Qatar were among Arab associations that had already announced their support for Infantino.

The nomination deadline is November 18, leaving potential challengers with limited time to organize a campaign and secure commitments across FIFA’s membership. Until a rival formally enters the race with a sufficiently broad coalition, the contest remains centered on whether Infantino’s opponents can turn their criticism of his leadership into an effective electoral challenge.