FIFA World Cup Stakes Fallout Latest: Infantino Ousting Plot Drawn Up

Opponents of Gianni Infantino are forming close alliances and concocting plans to force the FIFA president to stand down, according to reports.

Global football association bodies have threatened to stage their own tournaments if Infantino refuses to walk away. Yes, it has emerged that UEFA, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have a number of strategies drawn up if Infantino fails to hand in his resignation.

Termed a ‘governance boycott’, Infantino’s detractors are resorting to several measures to get their way. Among the tactics outlined are vetoing FIFA decisions or stepping back from FIFA council meetings.

Walls close in on Infantino

The storm clouds have gathered, and the calls for Infantino to resign have intensified. Last week, reports surfaced indicating that Infantino was looking to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors, but it was duly met with widespread condemnation.

Infantino had written to all 211 member associations indicating that they would receive £30 million if they endorsed his plan, and were they to sign up, they would get their hands on an initial £15 million which would be made available as of January 1 2027.

However, Infantino’s plans quickly unravelled. Last weekend, Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, handed in his resignation, citing Infantino’s proposed policy as a ‘bad deal for football’ and one that would ‘mortgage football’s future’.

Moreover, an emergency meeting was held by UEFA indicating they would boycott all FIFA tournaments if Infantino’s plans were ratified. But it seems Infantino, who is seeking re-election, is clinging on by his fingertips.

Insights into the election process

As things stand, Infantino will put himself forward for re-election in March next year, which would represent his fourth and final term as president. But to be successful, he requires a simple majority of over 50% or 106 votes from the 211 member associations.

The split of votes is broken down as follows: UEFA (55), Africa (54), Asia (46), Concacaf (35), Oceania (11), and South America (10). The FIFA presidential election process essentially lasts a year from one Congress to the next, but given the backlash over Infantino, things remain fraught with uncertainty.

A candidacy deadline of November 18 has been set, and should someone wish to stand, they must garner support from at least five member associations. Rumours have been swirling over potential rivals to Infantino, and that includes Conacaf president Victor Montagliani, who was elected on promising significant reform.

Beginning of the end?

National associations, including the English Football Association (FA) and the Football Association of Wales (FAW), have already submitted letters formalising their withdrawal of support for Infantino to stand again for re-election. More pertinently, The Times noted that Infantino has so far secured just 15 declarations of support from the 211 associations since the scandal first exploded.

An unnamed source close to the paper said:

“Everyone is very determined he needs to go, and if not we will take all the necessary steps [to remove him from power]. That includes future international competitions — would the big South American countries prefer to play France or Spain, or Lebanon or Djibouti?

“Everyone is very determined, there are no backward steps now.”

World football is perhaps more divided now than it has ever been. The unedifying saga has put Infantino in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and re-election is far from a guarantee now.