FIFA To Block Infantino’s Re-Election Bid

Human rights group FairSquare has urged FIFA to prevent Gianni Infantino from contesting another term as president, arguing that he has already reached the three-term limit stipulated in the organisation’s statutes.

Infantino was first elected in 2016 to complete the remaining mandate of Sepp Blatter, who resigned in 2015. He was subsequently re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

However, FIFA ruled in 2022 that his initial spell should not count towards the three-term limit because it was a completion of Blatter’s mandate.

FairSquare has challenged that interpretation, saying it conflicts with FIFA’s own rules.

In a submission to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, FairSquare Director, Nicholas McGeehan argued that the rules clearly establish three presidential terms as the maximum and should not be circumvented through an exception for Infantino.

The group also questioned the transparency of the 2022 decision, noting that the committee did not publish its reasoning and that the ruling was announced shortly before the World Cup final in Qatar.

The complaint was prepared with Miguel Maduro, a former head of FIFA’s independent Governance and Review Committee.

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Maduro said term limits were a central part of the reforms introduced in 2016 to strengthen checks on presidential power.

Infantino is expected to seek another term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco on March 18, 2027, for the 2027–2031 cycle.

Pressure on the FIFA president has increased in recent weeks. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have called for scrutiny of his conduct following FIFA’s proposal for a $20 billion subsidiary linked to its competitions.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell has also said his federation will not support Infantino’s re-election bid.

Despite the opposition, Infantino continues to enjoy backing from the South American and African football confederations, leaving the battle over his potential fourth term unresolved.