FIFA President Gianni Infantino has secured the required votes to win re-election to the head of world football, according to a Reuters report citing sources familiar with behind-the-scenes discussions.
The development, also reported by Greek news agency ANA-MPA, represents a major turnaround for the 56-year-old Swiss-Italian administrator. Just a few weeks ago, senior figures across international football considered his position as head of the organization to be extremely precarious.
A person with direct knowledge of talks among high-ranking football officials told Reuters that three weeks ago they believed Infantino was finished. The source added that they had failed to realize the extent to which the relationships Infantino has built over 10 years in power have become almost impossible to break.
Infantino faced the steepest challenge of his 10-year presidency earlier this year following the failure of his proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA competitions to private investors. The proposed deal included commercial rights to major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup.
Opposition from regional confederations
The investment plan triggered widespread backlash across international football governing bodies. European governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF, which oversees football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, all demanded changes in FIFA leadership.
Multiple European national associations subsequently withdrew their support for Infantino's candidate bid. France became the most recent European national federation to formally pull its backing from the incumbent president.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström previously described the chain of events leading to the abandonment of the investment plan as a regrettable and deplorable series of events. However, Grafström reiterated his complete support for Infantino following an extraordinary meeting held in Rabat, Morocco.
FIFA is the international governing body for association football, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The organization oversees global competitions and is governed by the FIFA Congress, where each national football association holds equal voting rights regardless of its size or financial strength.
Election arithmetic favors incumbent
With the immediate crisis subsiding, the numerical balance of power ahead of the presidential elections appears increasingly difficult for opponents seeking to unseat Infantino. The FIFA chief maintains strong footholds among smaller footballing nations as well as significant voting blocs outside Europe.
No rival candidate capable of gathering the necessary support across FIFA's 211 member federations has emerged so far. Because UEFA comprises only 55 member associations, any effort to unseat the president requires building a broad international alliance that extends far beyond the European continent.
Opponents now face a difficult dilemma in deciding whether to mount a formal challenge. Launching a presidential campaign that results in an election defeat could ultimately strengthen Infantino's influence within FIFA rather than diminish it.
The source noted that the overall situation has shifted direction, adding that entering a vote and failing to win now represents an even greater risk for UEFA and its allies.
