News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. World Cup Gianni Infantino has already secured formal support from over 200 countries for his re-election as FIFA president, despite the climate of instability generated by the scandal surrounding the lifting of the suspension on Folarin Balogun, The Guardian reported this Friday. The re-election for a fourth term at the congress in March now seems to be a mere formality, the British newspaper writes. The publication notes that only a small number of the 211 member federations of the organization that governs football worldwide have yet to send letters of support to Infantino. Among the exceptions are some European countries, with Germany being the most prominent federation that has not yet officially endorsed the 56-year-old Swiss. The deadline for submitting candidacies ends on November 18, by which date letters of support can be withdrawn or transferred to another candidate. However, Infantino is currently the only candidate in the race. Some federations may have felt persistent pressure from FIFA to confirm their loyalty, a practice that, in theory, is not allowed by the organization’s code of ethics. A true political earthquake would be needed to remove Infantino from power. Although discontent persists, especially among European federations, after Donald Trump admitted to lobbying FIFA to overturn Balogun’s red card against Bosnia, the vast majority of support is assured. The current head of the organization does not need European backing to secure a landslide mandate, and in any case, most of the continent has already confirmed its support, including the English Football Association, which reportedly sent its letter well before the World Cup. In the last ten days, the idea of a Europe-backed candidate to run against Infantino has gained traction behind the scenes, but the prospect of various federations reaching a consensus on a name seems remote. UEFA has already expressed its opposition to FIFA on several recent issues, such as the incident with Balogun and the removal of Somali referee Omar Artan from the World Cup. However, it is unclear whether the leadership of the European body would be willing to formally support a candidate. Sources close to the hierarchy of European football believe that a candidate capable of gathering 30 or 40 votes could at least open a legitimate public debate about FIFA’s governance and direction. FIFA member federations will meet in New York on Saturday, but since the meeting is presided over by Infantino, it is unlikely that recent scandals will be on the agenda. The discussion is expected to focus instead on the financial performance of the World Cup and the potential benefits that may be distributed among the federations.
Read more in football news. and related tags: Despite the, Folarin Balogun.