UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has firmly stated he is not interested” in succeeding Gianni Infantino as FIFA president, even as he warned that Infantino must either step down or face a leadership challenge.
Infantino, who has faced mounting criticism and calls to resign after a now-scrapped plan to bring private investment into FIFA tournaments such as the World Cup, is rapidly losing support from European and other football federations. UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, and several national associations have withdrawn their backing for Infantino.
Despite the turmoil, Ceferin has ruled himself out as a potential candidate to replace Infantino. Speaking on The Rest is Politics podcast, the 58-year-old Slovenian said, “I’m not interested for two reasons. One, I love UEFA and my work here, and at some point, it’s also time to enjoy life a bit. Second, my credibility is much higher if I’m not interested in the position.”
Ceferin has been outspoken in his criticism since Infantino revealed controversial plans to seek private investment to run FIFA tournaments. He now believes Infantino’s previously secure position is under real threat, predicting that the FIFA president will either be forced to resign or face a challenger if he seeks re-election at the upcoming FIFA Congress in Morocco next March.
Infantino, a former UEFA secretary general, was initially supported by European nations when he took over from Sepp Blatter in 2016. However, Ceferin, who admitted he has not spoken to Infantino since the controversy began, said the climate has changed. “There are two options. One is that he realizes he lacks the necessary support from not just voters, but the broader football community—fans, players, coaches, and former players. The second is that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will face an opponent. I don’t know yet who.”
Possible challengers include CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and AFC chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa.
Meanwhile, Infantino spent the weekend in the Dominican Republic meeting with local and regional football officials, despite reports that Montagliani asked him to avoid a youth tournament there. Addressing the ongoing controversy in a video released by FIFA, the 56-year-old Infantino said, “It’s important to engage, to have dialogue, to express views and opinions. A lot has been happening in the last few weeks, and it’s important you hear, you listen, and you’re able to also express your feelings. Overall, I’m very happy with all the support I get here.”
Source: AFP
