The human rights organisation FairSquare has formally requested that FIFA deem Gianni Infantino ineligible for another presidential term, citing that he has reached the maximum limit of three terms as outlined in FIFA’s regulations. The organisation asserts that this ruling is necessary to uphold FIFA’s governance standards.
Currently, the statutes of FIFA restrict the president to serving three terms in office. Infantino, who began his presidency in 2016 following the resignation of Sepp Blatter, argued last year that his initial term should not be counted toward this limit because it completed an interrupted mandate. This interpretation has prompted FairSquare to lodge a complaint, arguing that it contradicts the documented rules.
<h4″Director of FairSquare, Nicholas McGeehan, communicated to Reuters that the situation represents a significant breach of FIFA’s statutes and warned that it sets a precarious precedent. He clarified that FIFA cannot dismiss these regulations, which are essential for checking presidential authority, by claiming that the initial term does not apply.”}
Infantino’s Re-Election Challenges Intensify
As the FIFA Congress in Morocco approaches, scheduled for March 18, 2023, Infantino is under increased scrutiny regarding his re-election for the 2027-31 term. Recently, calls for a review of his leadership have emerged from UEFA and other confederations, following FIFA’s proposal to establish a $20 billion subsidiary associated with its events.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that these confederations view the evolving circumstances as a chance for Infantino to resign with dignity. Furthermore, national football associations have expressed their objections, with Scottish Football Association CEO Ian Maxwell explicitly stating that his organisation will not support Infantino’s re-election bid.
Despite this opposition, Infantino continues to enjoy backing from several confederations, particularly in Africa and South America. As the atmosphere around the upcoming election grows tense, the dynamics within FIFA may significantly shift in the coming months.
Concerns Over Transparency in FIFA’s Decisions
In addition to questioning Infantino’s eligibility, FairSquare has raised alarms about the transparency surrounding FIFA’s earlier ruling in December 2022, which confirmed that Infantino’s first term would not be counted. They noted that no public rationale was given for this decision, which was revealed just days before the Qatar 2022 World Cup final.
McGeehan highlighted the lack of reasoning provided by FIFA and suggested that the timing of the announcement indicates an awareness of the insufficiency of evidence to support the claim that Infantino’s first term should be excluded. The request to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee was created with assistance from Miguel Maduro, the former leader of FIFA’s independent Governance and Review Committee.
Maduro voiced strong criticisms of FIFA’s approach, asserting that the concept of term limits is a crucial component of the reforms established in 2016 to limit executive power. He expressed apprehensions that proposing an exception for Infantino not only disrespects the principle of term limits but also demonstrates a concerning attitude towards compliance with organisational rules.
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