Boost for Infantino as popular potential opponent has 'zero' interest in FIFA presidency

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FT Desk

One potentially formidable opponent to Gianni Infantino has ruled himself out of the running for the FIFA presidency.

Infantino has held the presidency since 2016 after succeeding Sepp Blatter. He first made his name at UEFA, where he helped run some of Europe's biggest competitions, including the Champions League and the European Championship.

Since taking over at FIFA, he's pushed through several major changes, most notably expanding the men's World Cup to 48 teams and launching a new-look Club World Cup. While he's often spoken about making football more global and accessible, his time in charge has also attracted plenty of criticism, with a number of FIFA's decisions and controversies putting him under the spotlight.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, he courted controversy due to his relationship with Donald Trump and his decision to award the United States president the inaugural FIFA 'Peace Prize'.

In the subsequent months after receiving that honour, Trump instigated several military operations abroad and would eventually go to war with Iran, a participating nation in the World Cup. The Iranians were forced to relocate their home base to Mexico during their time in the tournament and were only granted 24-hour visas for their matches.

The USA's immigration policy also led to plenty of fans, and officals and even one World Cup referee not being allowed into the country for the World Cup.

Things seemed to reach a breaking point for FIFA and Infantino during the tournament when the governing body bizarrely made the decision to overturn a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun so that he could feature in a knockout game versus Belgium.

Trump confirmed that he personally contacted Infantino to intervene, though it was subsequently reported that the decision was made by one man alone - FIFA disciplinary chair Mohammad al-Kamali.

UEFA released a strong statement following the fiasco, saying FIFA had "crossed the line".

Most recently, Infantino revealed plans to potentially sell World Cup shares to private investors. The proposals received almost universal condemnation from football associations around the world, and UEFA as the governing body of European football.

UEFA would accuse him of trying to sell the soul of football in their statement immediately after the news broke.

UEFA ready to take on Infantino

Infantino has already confirmed his intention to run for the presidency again but UEFA are keen to oppose him.

Although UEFA president Alexander Ceferin is widely regarded as one of the strongest potential candidates, the Slovenian is expected to remain at the helm of European football rather than pursue FIFA's top job.

Another popular candidate was PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi but he has officially ruled himself out of the running.

"I have zero interest in FIFA, zero agenda [or] ambition to be there," Al-Khelaifi said at a news conference after an European Football Clubs annual meeting in Copenhagen.

"I don't think I'm the right guy for this position and I don't want to go actually, I'm enjoying what I'm doing. I think FIFA's not for me. Thank you."

El-Khelaifi was elected as the chairman of European Football Clubs (EFC) in 2021.

"It's time to say enough," Ceferin said at the conference.

"Rules bent when inconvenient. Those meant to have a say simply cut out. And football's future treated as just another bargaining chip."

"Football needs great leaders like you," Al-Khelaifi said of Ceferin in his own speech, adding "we ask you to stand for president [at UEFA] again next year."