Gianni Infantino runs unopposed, becomes FIFA president until 2027
The FIFA President intends to stay at the helm for 15 years, exceeding the maximum limit of 12.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino (Source: FIFA)
Gianni Infantino became FIFA president until 2027 after facing no challengers during a conference on Thursday. Delegates from the 211 member federations unanimously elected the 52-year-old Swiss lawyer by acclamation. Infantino took Sepp Blatter’s place as president in 2016 for a third term.
“To all those who love me, and I know there are so many, and also those who hate me, I know there are a few: I love you all,” said Infantino. The voting system did not count the number of votes against him. Infantino declared in December that his first three years as president did not constitute a full term. FIFA laws limit a president to a maximum of three four-year terms. This has already set the stage for Infantino to remain until 2031.
Infantino fiercely defended Qatar’s decision to host the World Cup last year as their treatment of migrant workers, women, and the LGBTQ community came under scrutiny, has presided over the expansion of the men’s and women’s World Cups as well as significant increases in FIFA revenues. But, Infantino’s mostly European-based rivals could not put out a contender to challenge the guy who had served as Michel Platini’s assistant at UEFA.
As he shifted his attention to the following four years, Infantino said there was “a lot to look forward to” and that the 2026 World Cup. It is the first to feature 48 countries, and will be “the most inclusive World Cup ever.” A new, extended Club World Cup with 32 teams may also be introduced by Infantino, to be held every four years beginning in 2025.
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Why did Gianni Infantino run unopposed?
According to the leader of one national federation, public protests remain the exception because such disloyalty comes at a high cost. There’s too much at stake, too much money, and too many footballing considerations that still go through the president’s office. Any dissent could be disastrous, especially for the world’s smaller nations, which account for the vast majority of votes.
FIFA distributes funds evenly to “make football truly global,” according to Infantino, at a time when elite European clubs can hoard talent and resources. As a result, each country receives the same funding and has one vote in Congress.
The president of Norway’s soccer federation, Lise Klaveness, was one of the few national leaders to criticise Infantino and FIFA publicly. She blamed a “culture of fear” that prevents critics from speaking out and stated that “tone at the top is important.” She described letters sent by FIFA to federations last year urging them to support Infantino, which she claimed had a chilling effect on potential opponents.
“The culture has not changed,” said Miguel Maduro, FIFA’s former governance chief under Infantino and a longstanding critic of football administration. “Look at the institution from the outside, and what do you see? Voting is almost always unanimous. Incumbents are always re-elected and almost never challenged. Presidents that extend existing term limits.”
He also stated that if FIFA were a country, this would constitute clear evidence of “a severe democratic defect in the electoral system and the organization of the institution.”
Infantino’s power and electoral appeal, however, remain unaffected. Few national federations have explicitly spoken out against him. It will be interesting to see if anything changes at the top of the footballing pyramid.
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Arpan Ghosh
(1403 Articles Published)