UEFA signals replacing FIFA President amid unprecedented crisis

UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister has made public the requirements for the next FIFA leader, as President Gianni Infantino faces intense scrutiny over his governance of the world's most influential football body.

The controversies surrounding FIFA and Gianni Infantino continue to escalate as UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister expressed notable views on the next FIFA President. According to her, the future head of the world's most powerful football body should act as a "guardian of the sport", capable of uniting global football.

UEFA gives signal about post-Infantino period

In an interview cited by Reuters, McAllister stated that finding a candidate capable of competing with Infantino is not straightforward. A candidate wishing to enter the race for FIFA President needs broad support from various regions around the world, rather than relying solely on the voice of European football.

According to the female Vice President UEFA, the key factor is to find a figure capable of connecting the entire football world. The complex political landscape within FIFA means that even a candidate with strong support in Europe may not be able to bring about change.

Notably, McAllister also called for a comprehensive reform in football governance. She argued that the beautiful game should not be run by a model that concentrates too much power in one individual or separate "fiefdoms," but should move towards a more democratic and transparent mechanism.

The UEFA official also stressed that football should not be dominated by private capital, political interests, or commercial gains. According to her, the interests of the sport must be placed at the center, from grassroots football to the highest level.

Infantino under pressure ahead of the 2027 elections

These remarks came shortly after FIFA had to cancel plans to establish a commercial company and sell shares related to future World Cup revenues to outside investors. The proposal faced strong opposition from many member associations, forcing Infantino to withdraw the plan.

FIFA's leadership subsequently expressed continued support for Infantino and apologized to the 211 member associations for errors related to the plan's development. However, Reuters noted that these actions are unlikely to fully end the debates about FIFA's governance ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Infantino had earlier formally confirmed his candidacy in the election for FIFA President in 2027. Therefore, the latest statement from a high-ranking UEFA official has attracted even more attention, despite no sufficiently strong rival having officially emerged to challenge his position.

The power race at FIFA is therefore expected to see many noteworthy developments in the coming period, especially if European football can find a candidate capable of gathering support from non-UEFA federations.