Čeferin on Infantino: 'I'm not interested in FIFA presidency, but he will have an opponent'

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has definitively ruled out a bid for the FIFA presidency, stating his commitment to his current role and a desire to enjoy life. He expressed that his credibility is enhanced by not seeking the position.

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I don't care for two reasons. One is that I love UEFA and I love working here and I believe that at some point it's time to enjoy life a bit. The second reason is that my credibility is much, much higher if I'm not interested in the position.

Despite his personal decision, Čeferin anticipates that FIFA President Gianni Infantino will likely face competition in the upcoming March 2027 elections. He outlined two potential scenarios for Infantino: either recognizing a lack of support from the football community and stepping down, or running for re-election and encountering a challenger.

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One option is to realize that he doesn't have the support. And I'm not just talking about the political support of those who vote, but the support of the football community, fans, players, former players and coaches. The second option is to go to the elections in March, but in that case I believe he will have an opponent.

Čeferin also launched a strong critique of FIFA's proposed plan to grant a percentage of its commercial rights to private investors. He described this move as "worse than the Super League," arguing that while the Super League aimed to create a separate competition, FIFA's plan would essentially "sell off" the sport itself.

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I think someone needs to remind him that he is European. I believe this plan is even worse than the European Super League. Very important clubs wanted to create their own league, which was wrong and would destroy football. In this case, however, football would literally be sold off.

Furthermore, the UEFA president commented on the controversial intervention by then-U.S. President Donald Trump in the case of Folarin Balogun's suspension during the World Cup. Čeferin called the situation "shocking," emphasizing that rules must be respected and that presidential interference undermines the integrity of the game. He noted that many in the football world were shocked but hesitant to speak out.

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We have rules and if you don't respect your own rules, the game has no meaning. The president of a country says: 'I called him and told him to look into it.' And then the president of FIFA says it was an independent decision. For us, as fans or as a governing body, this is shocking. And believe me, almost everyone was shocked. Not everyone dared to speak.