Gianni Infantino has secured the formal backing of more than 200 countries for his re-election as FIFA president, despite the unrest that has followed the controversy over Folarin Balogun’s suspension being overturned.
The Guardian understands that only a handful of FIFA’s 211 member associations have yet to send letters of support for Infantino, who is set to be re-elected for a fourth term by a landslide at the organization’s congress in March. A small number of European countries are among those still holding out, with Germany being the most high-profile football association yet to offer its official backing.
Candidates must be nominated by November 18, and letters of support can be withdrawn or transferred to another candidate before that date. However, Infantino is currently the only candidate, and some football associations feel they have been under persistent pressure from within FIFA to confirm their support. In theory, this should not be allowed under FIFA’s ethics code.
It would take a major political shift to unseat Infantino. Although there is lingering unease after Donald Trump admitted to lobbying FIFA to review the red card given to US striker Folarin Balogun in a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, most of this discontent is concentrated among European football associations and related organizations. Infantino does not need Europe’s support to secure a strong mandate, and in any case, most European countries have already confirmed their backing for his re-election. The English FA, for example, sent its letter well before the World Cup.
The idea of a Europe-backed candidate running against Infantino has gained some traction behind closed doors over the past ten days, but the chances of multiple federations agreeing on a single candidate seem slim.
UEFA has made its opposition to FIFA clear on several recent issues, such as the Balogun incident and the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan from the World Cup. However, it is unclear whether UEFA’s leadership would feel compelled to formally support a candidate in the election. Some sources close to European football’s leadership believe that a candidate who could gather 30 or 40 votes might at least spark a legitimate public debate about FIFA’s governance and direction.
FIFA’s member associations will meet in New York on Saturday, but with Infantino leading the meeting, recent scandals are unlikely to be on the agenda. Instead, the discussion will likely focus on the World Cup’s financial performance and any potential benefits that could be passed on to the associations.
FIFA was approached for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the FIFA presidential election and the Balogun scandal written in a natural clear tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly is happening with Gianni Infantino
He is running for a fourth term as the president of FIFA Over 200 countries have publicly supported his reelection
2 Who is Balogun and what is the scandal
The scandal involves claims against a highranking FIFA official The allegations typically involve financial misconduct bribery or improper contracting during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
3 Why are so many countries backing Infantino despite the scandal
Many smaller football associations benefit directly from FIFAs increased funding and development programs under Infantino They see him as a reliable leader who brings money and stability and they may not view the scandal as proven or as a reason to change leadership
4 Is Infantino facing any legal charges right now
No active criminal charges have been filed against Infantino personally in relation to the Balogun scandal However investigations and internal FIFA ethics probes have been launched
5 How many votes does Infantino need to win a fourth term
He needs a simple majority of the 211 FIFA member associations Since over 200 have already backed him his reelection is almost certain
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 How does the Balogun scandal specifically relate to Infantino
Reports suggest that some of the alleged misconduct happened with Infantinos knowledge or under his leaderships oversight Critics argue that Infantino failed to enforce FIFAs own ethics rules or that he benefited from the deals indirectly
7 What are the main criticisms of Infantinos leadership during this time
Critics say he has centralized power weakened independent oversight committees and prioritized commercial expansion over transparency The scandal is seen as a symptom of a lack of accountability
8 Could the scandal actually block his reelection
Very unlikely FIFAs own Congress has shown no appetite to remove him The backing of 200 countries means the scandal has not eroded his political
