FIFA President Infantino confirms re-election bid

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been confirmed as a candidate for re-election at the organisation’s presidential election scheduled for March.

The announcement comes amid criticism over a controversial plan to attract private investment into FIFA’s commercial rights, which was later abandoned.

The proposed investment had caused disagreements among several football associations, with the football governing bodies of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland reportedly withdrawing from the process.

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, will now seek another term as president.

However, in a BBC report on Sunday, a FIFA statement noted that the 56-year-old Swiss, who had held the role since 2016, would be vying for another term in office.

If re-elected, he will serve until 2031.

It read, “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,” the statement added.

Infantino refused to answer questions about his future when asked by reporters at the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday.

It is the first time FIFA has said he will run for a new term since the plan was announced following the summer’s World Cup, the report noted.

Recently, FIFA has accused European football’s governing body UEFA of waging a “smear campaign,” with the latest escalation coming after UEFA asked US courts to release documents and obtain testimony relating to FIFA Forward Enterprise, a proposed subsidiary that would have brought outside investors into the commercial rights of major FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

UEFA said the information could be used in potential criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Infantino and other FIFA officials or advisers.

UEFA has alleged that the FFE proposal was developed without proper consultation with FIFA’s Council, regional confederations or its 211 member associations. It has also questioned the valuation and structure of the proposed investment, accusing Infantino of potentially benefiting personally from the arrangement.

FIFA, however, has rejected those allegations and argued in a court filing that UEFA is misrepresenting what was ultimately only a proposal

At the moment, there have been no particular candidates to challenge Infantino, although CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is considered a serious option.

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