Berlin, Sept 7. (dpa/GNA) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino, will resist resignation calls and stand for re-election for another term in 2027, the ruling football body said on Sunday.
“The FIFA president announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
The statement came the day after Infantino declined to answer questions about his future, when asked by reporters at the start of the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in the Polish city of Katowice.
“There will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It’s not today, it’s not here,” he said.
Infantino came under fire over eventually scrapped plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, such as the World Cup, to private investors.
In the biggest crisis of his tenure since he took office in 2016, Europe’s UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA events, and is preparing a lawsuit in connection with the investor plans, on suspicion of breach of fiduciary duty. No charges have yet been brought.
Infantino insists that he has not violated applicable law, and FIFA itself involved the US justice system and accused the Europeans of a “smear campaign”.
UEFA wants Infantino to resign, and there is also opposition in other confederations, such as Asia and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America plus the Caribbean.
However, Infantino also retains wide-ranging support. UEFA aims to work together with other confederations to find a credible alternative presidential candidate for the election set for March 2027 at the FIFA congress in Morocco.
Candidates must register by November 18. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said he is not available to challenge Infantino.
GNA