FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced his intention to seek re-election, as confirmed by the global governing body of soccer on Sunday.
Infantino has encountered growing scrutiny due to his unsuccessful proposal to sell shares in the World Cup.
In spite of widespread demands for his resignation, FIFA stated that Infantino will aim for a fourth and final term in office, extending his tenure through to 2031.
“The FIFA President declared in April his plan to run for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will be a candidate for re-election,” remarked a FIFA representative.
UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, has been at the forefront of calls for Infantino to resign, expressing a loss of confidence in his leadership and previously threatening to boycott FIFA events, including the World Cup. Several national associations, including the English FA, have withdrawn their support for Infantino’s re-election bid.
When arriving for the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland on Saturday, Infantino declined to comment on his future.
-
FIFA President Gianni Infantino declines to address his future while at U20 Women’s World Cup
-
UEFA prepares criminal complaint in Swiss courts against FIFA’s Infantino over World Cup sell-off
“There will be much to discuss, but there’s an appropriate time and place for that. It’s not today, nor here, but right now, we are celebrating football,” he told Sky News.
FIFA has expressed regret for mistakes related to its contentious plan to commercialize World Cup profits through a subsidiary and has vowed to “ensure such errors do not recur.”
However, this has not alleviated the mounting pressure on Infantino’s position.
The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to run in the upcoming presidential election is November 18, exactly four months before the voting takes place.