Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s grip on world football appears to be weakening after his controversial plan to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup collapsed amid fierce opposition from football’s governing bodies. In what could be another blow to his leadership, Infantino reportedly failed to secure support from one of his closest political allies, US President Donald Trump, after repeatedly trying to reach him in the aftermath of the proposal’s withdrawal.
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According to the New York Post, Infantino repeatedly tried to contact Trump after Europe and Asia overwhelmingly rejected FIFA’s proposal to sell around a 20 per cent stake in a new commercial entity that would control the World Cup and other major competitions. The report added that since the plan was shelved on Friday, the FIFA chief has felt “isolated” amid a wave of criticism from across the football world.
The proposal was designed to unlock up to USD 4.2 billion from private investors by spinning FIFA’s commercial assets into a separate company. However, the plan was met with fierce resistance from major football stakeholders, particularly UEFA and several Asian federations, who argued that FIFA had failed to adequately consult its members before pursuing such a significant structural change.
With the proposal now abandoned, attention has shifted from the failed investment plan to Infantino’s own future. The setback has intensified scrutiny over his bid to seek another term as FIFA president from 2027 to 2031.
WHO CAN REPLACE INFANTINO AS FIFA PRESIDENT?
The controversy has also fuelled speculation over who could challenge Infantino should his grip on the FIFA presidency continue to weaken. Several influential figures from across world football have already emerged as potential contenders ahead of the 2027 election.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces an uphill battle in his re-election bid as the national soccer federations of Serbia, Sweden and Wales withdrew their support after a failed proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.
The following figures have emerged as potential candidates to replace Infantino for the term running from 2027 through 2031. The vote is scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18.
VICTOR MONTAGLIANI
North American football chief and Canadian businessman Victor Montagliani is considering challenging Infantino for the FIFA presidency, according to a report on Friday.
CONCACAF rejected Infantino’s private equity proposal but stopped short of calling for an outright boycott as UEFA did. The 2026 World Cup was the first time the tournament was played on CONCACAF’s soil since 1994.
ALEKSANDER CEFERIN
Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the World Cup final last month after a series of disagreements between UEFA and FIFA, and the European football governing body emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Infantino in a bruising week for the global soccer boss.
SALMAN BIN IBRAHIM AL KHALIFA
A senior vice president on the FIFA Council, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa from Bahrain is among those who have opposed expanding the World Cup to 64 teams.
The AFC took a jab at Infantino in its opposition to the FIFA boss’ private equity proposal, saying the plan “has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed.”
NASSER AL-KHELAIFI
European soccer officials are beginning to rally around the Qatari sports executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi as a leading challenger, according to a Politico report last week.
LISE KLAVENESS
One of the most prominent women in global football, Norway’s Lise Klaveness was among the most vocal leaders of the opposition to Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup.
Norway previously weighed bringing an ethics complaint to FIFA over the decision to suspend a ban imposed on US forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup after Donald Trump’s intervention. The saga brought fresh scrutiny over the relationship between Infantino and the US leader.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
