Berlin: UEFA chief Čeferin announces his candidacy, Infantino remains unchallenged
At the UEFA summit in Berlin, President Aleksander Čeferin announced his candidacy for a fourth term as UEFA chief, while a direct challenger for FIFA chief Gianni Infantino is still missing.
“Anti‑Infantino summit” and the candidacy
The communicated moment after the meeting dubbed the “Anti‑Infantino summit” was used by the European Football Union (UEFA) as an opportunity to confirm the unanimous request of the 55 member associations. The official communiqué read: “Aleksander Čeferin accepts the unanimous request of the 55 member associations.”
With this, the Slovene signals that he wants to run again for the highest office in European football, without stepping into the ring against Infantino.
Missing challenger for Infantino
A specific name for an opposing candidate in the FIFA presidential election on March 18 in Rabat is still missing. According to a report by The Guardian, Canadian president Victor Montagliani has already confirmed his candidacy for the CONCACAF presidency, but a possible challenger for Infantino has not yet been named.
UEFA outlines the profile it wants to replace Infantino as FIFA chief
UEFA vice‑president Laura McAllister emphasized that a candidate is needed who will reunite football worldwide and strengthen governance, without naming a specific individual.
Further steps and reform demands
By early November a candidate should be found; afterwards the UEFA executive committee will convene another meeting of the 55 member associations. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf stated that after the Berlin meeting a catalogue of institutional reforms for FIFA was sent to Zurich, demanding clear separation of powers and a limited presidential role.
At the upcoming FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, in which both Čeferin and Neuendorf will participate, the European proposals are to be further clarified. At the same time, Infantino has received the unanimous support of the African associations in Cape Verde, while South America and parts of Oceania also stand on his side.