UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has publicly challenged Gianni Infantino to step down from his role as head of world football’s governing body. The Slovenian official warned that the under-fire FIFA president must either resign or prepare to face a formal leadership challenge. This mounting pressure follows Infantino’s now-abandoned plan to secure private investment for FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, which sparked significant backlash across the global football community.
The Case for Resignation
Infantino, who previously served as UEFA secretary general, enjoyed broad support from European nations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter in 2016. However, the current climate has shifted dramatically. UEFA has threatened a potential boycott of FIFA competitions, and several continental and national federations have formally withdrawn their backing. Ceferin, who noted he has not spoken to Infantino since the controversy began, believes the FIFA president’s position is no longer secure.
Ceferin Rules Out Personal Bid
Despite his vocal criticism, the 58-year-old Ceferin explicitly ruled out a bid to replace the Swiss official. Speaking onThe Rest is Politicspodcast, he outlined two primary reasons for his decision
- He expressed a deep commitment to his current role at UEFA, noting that he believes it is important to eventually step back and enjoy life outside of the intense political pressure of global football governance.
- He emphasized that his personal credibility remains significantly higher if he remains detached from the pursuit of the FIFA presidency.
Potential Leadership Challenges
Ceferin outlined two distinct paths for the future of FIFA leadership. He suggested that Infantino might realize he lacks the necessary backing—not just from voting members, but from the broader football community, including players, coaches, and fans—and choose to step down. Alternatively, if Infantino insists on standing for re-election at the upcoming FIFA Congress in Morocco this March, Ceferin predicted he will face a formal challenger, though he did not name a specific candidate.
Internal Friction and FIFA Response
Industry observers have identified CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and AFC boss Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa as potential candidates to challenge Infantino. Tensions were further highlighted when Infantino visited the Dominican Republic for meetings with regional officials over the weekend, reportedly against the wishes of Montagliani, who had requested he stay away from a youth tournament held there.
In response to the ongoing turmoil, FIFA released video remarks from the 56-year-old president on Sunday. Infantino appeared to address the recent criticism, stating, “It’s important to engage, to have a dialogue, to express views and opinions.” He added that while much has occurred in recent weeks, he remains focused on listening to feedback. “So I think overall positive, very, very happy with all the support I get here,” Infantino concluded, signaling his intent to remain in his post despite the growing calls for his departure. The report also notes that and I think that at a certain point, one reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here.
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