Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure from within Fifa, as a coalition of council members grows restless and demands change. The tension is escalating, with a faction of Fifa Council aiming to call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) that could seriously threaten his leadership. The council’s frustration has intensified after details surfaced about Infantino’s plan to sell portions of the World Cup to an outside firm. These developments have sparked calls for an independent investigation, raising the question of whether Infantino can hold onto power.
Calls for an independent review intensify
The push for an EGM began well before the World Cup sell-off plan was revealed. Council members are specifically demanding an external review of the recent decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the World Cup. This move, which allowed Balogun to play despite a prior ban, was reportedly influenced by phone calls from Donald Trump. The decision has drawn sharp criticism, especially after the Norwegian Football Association filed a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee. Norway accused Fifa of violating its political neutrality guidelines by yielding to external pressure.
The current council, made up of 37 members, has a majority of 19 votes required to demand an EGM. At least 14 members are now openly opposing Infantino. They claim the ethics committee failed to act independently and demand a detailed account of how the Balogun suspension was lifted. Despite Fifa’s insistence that all procedures were followed, the governing body has yet to release a written report of the hearing, leaving room for further doubt and criticism.
World Cup sell-off fuels rebellion
The rebels gained more traction when Infantino abruptly reversed his decision to sell 20% of a new World Cup operating company. The deal, which targeted Thrive Capital—a firm founded by Joshua Kushner, Donald Trump’s brother-in-law—was met with fierce opposition. Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation all denounced the plan as a conflict of interest and a betrayal of Fifa’s values. Both Uefa and Concacaf have since issued statements condemning Infantino and urging a full review of Fifa’s governance framework.
Support for Infantino, however, is not without strength. The Confederation of African Football and South America’s Conmebol remain firmly behind him. The Qatar Football Association has also publicly backed Infantino, which effectively closes the door on potential rival Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Victor Montagliani, president of Concacaf, is being seen as a possible alternative candidate, though his willingness to challenge Infantino remains uncertain.
Re-election hopes are now in question
Infantino’s re-election campaign has already gained more than 200 letters of support, but this backing is not guaranteed. These endorsements can be withdrawn, and the window for other candidates to declare their intentions remains open until November 18. Another possibility for removing Infantino is through an emergency Fifa Congress, which could lead to a vote of no confidence. This option would require 43 national associations to submit letters, a high but not impossible threshold.
A challenge from Sheikh Salman, the president of the Asian Football Confederation, who narrowly lost to Infantino in the 2016 Fifa election, is unlikely without backing from his own confederation. Salman has not yet announced any moves in this direction. Ultimately, the outcome depends on whether Infantino can retain his current support or if the rebels can amass enough votes to force a leadership change.