©picture alliance / Action Plus | Heuler Andrey
Gianni Infantino is on track for a fourth term as FIFA president after more than 200 of the 211 soccer associations have formally expressed their support. Only a handful of associations—mostly from Europe, with Germany being the most notable absentee—have not yet confirmed their support.
It appears that Infantino is the only candidate for the time being, and up until November 18, there's still time to submit nominations or to withdraw or transfer letters of support. As a result, the likelihood of a serious challenger emerging seems slim. The Guardian reports that a European-backed challenger did gain some credibility behind closed doors, but that the likelihood of a unified European candidate remains extremely limited. Support for Infantino comes mainly from Africa, Asia, and South America, while European soccer federations are much more cautious. In recent months, UEFA has also frequently taken a critical stance toward FIFA decisions, including those surrounding the so-called Balogun incident and the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan from the World Cup. Still, that tension does not seem sufficient to derail the Swiss candidate’s campaign.
For Infantino himself, European resistance seems to be nothing more than a minor detail. With an overwhelming majority of letters of support, he has already secured a mandate that, according to critics, is virtually impossible to derail. In theory, FIFA’s Code of Ethics should preclude pressure from above on national associations, but according to The Guardian, some associations do indeed feel pressured to explicitly reaffirm their loyalty. The situation is unfolding against a broader backdrop of unrest within international soccer, but so far this has not translated into a genuine challenge to his power. Even the recent uproar over Donald Trump’s comments regarding a red card for American striker Folarin Balogun has done little to weaken Infantino politically. It would therefore take a political earthquake to block his fourth term.
©picture alliance / Action Plus | Heuler Andrey