Spokesperson confirms Infantino bid for re-election as FIFA president

Spokesperson confirms Infantino bid for re-election as FIFA president Gianni Infantino will run for re-election in the next FIFA vote! At the helm of the organization since 2016, the 56-year-old Swiss official will seek his fourth term, the maximum limit allowed under the entity’s rules. If he wins, he will remain in power until 2031. Despite the recent behind-the-scenes crisis, Infantino has not changed his mind and will be a candidate for a new term at the head of FIFA in 2027, according to a FIFA spokesperson, in reports published by European outlets this Sunday (6), such as the BBC, L'Équipe, and Sky Sports. "The president announced in April that he would run in 2027. Obviously, nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will run again," the spokesperson said/ The crisis context and UEFA’s opposition: Controversial project: Infantino has been under heavy pressure after trying to approve a plan (now shelved) to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment funds. Boycott threat: The plan sparked global outrage and led UEFA to threaten to boycott all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. Legal battle: The crisis escalated this week. FIFA accused UEFA of waging a "smear campaign," while the European body filed legal documents in the U.S. demanding access to evidence and threatened to file a criminal complaint against FIFA in Switzerland. No-confidence vote ruled out: UEFA dropped the idea of forcing Infantino’s removal, since that would require the approval of 159 of the 211 members, a scenario considered unrealistic. The search for a new candidate: UEFA is confident it will be able to field an opposition candidate to go head-to-head with Infantino. So far, no name has been made official, but Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is considered a strong option. Associations such as those of England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland have already publicly withdrawn their support for the current president. The final deadline for submitting candidacies is November 18, and any candidate will need the backing of at least 106 of FIFA’s 211 member associations to enter the race. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.