Headline: Concerns Raised Over Gianni Infantino’s Fourth Term Eligibility Amid Climate of Fear
A former chair of FIFA’s governance committee has expressed concerns that a “climate of fear” could hinder national associations from challenging Gianni Infantino’s eligibility for a fourth term as FIFA president. Miguel Maduro, who was appointed by Infantino in 2016 to help reform FIFA following corruption scandals under former president Sepp Blatter, insists that FIFA’s statutes clearly state a three-term limit for presidents. He argues that this should be used by national associations to block Infantino’s candidacy for re-election next year.
Concerns over Infantino’s position resurfaced during the summer when details emerged about a private investor plan for the World Cup, which had been developed without the knowledge of the FIFA Council or national associations. Despite these challenges, Infantino appears to be well-positioned for re-election, gaining support from associations across Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America.
Maduro, who was dismissed by Infantino in 2017 after contesting the appointment of Russia’s Vitaly Mutko to the FIFA Council, has assisted the campaign group FairSquare in drafting a letter to FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee. This letter questions Infantino’s eligibility to run again. He fears many associations may hesitate to act, stating, “The fact that they are not [challenging Infantino’s eligibility] tells us a lot of the extent to which the climate is one of fear.”
Maduro criticizes the atmosphere within FIFA, where dissenting voices face ostracism, risking their influence. He worries that European associations may also be reluctant to dispute Infantino, especially after they recently modified UEFA’s statutes to allow incumbent Aleksander Ceferin to run again next year. Maduro acknowledges the inconsistency in FIFA’s rules compared to UEFA’s recent changes.
FIFA clarified in 2022 that a decision made by the FIFA Council before the World Cup final had discounted Infantino’s initial three-year term, allegedly allowing him to stand for re-election in 2027. The committee responsible for determining his eligibility for the upcoming election is chaired by Bruno Chiomento, who has known Infantino for over 20 years. European FIFA Council members have requested that Chiomento be recused due to his relationship with Infantino.
Should FIFA’s electoral committee deem Infantino eligible, Maduro points out that national associations could still challenge his candidacy at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the Swiss Federal Tribunal. He believes that the checks and balances within FIFA are now weaker than they were under Blatter, claiming Infantino has been granted unchecked powers.
Maduro also expressed concern over reports that committee members like Chiomento received VIP trips to the World Cup, questioning whether such benefits were granted at Infantino’s discretion. He stated, “If those that are supposed to do such control are subject to being removed by those that they are supposed to control, their independence is undermined.”
