Čeferin rules out FIFA presidency bid, still wants Infantino replaced

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has definitively ruled out a bid for the FIFA presidency, stating he is "not interested" in replacing the current, controversial leader Gianni Infantino.

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I am not interested.

Čeferin, who has led UEFA since 2016, expressed satisfaction with his current role. He also suggested that maintaining distance from the FIFA presidency enhances his credibility. "My credibility is many times higher if I don't have an interest in this post," the 58-year-old said in a podcast interview.

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My credibility is many times higher if I don't have an interest in this post.

Despite his personal non-candidacy, Čeferin remains critical of Infantino and believes the FIFA president should be replaced. He outlined two scenarios: either Infantino recognizes a lack of support, or he runs for re-election. In the latter case, Čeferin indicated that UEFA would likely field a rival candidate, though he has not yet identified who that might be.

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The first possibility is that he realizes that he does not have the support. The other possibility is that he runs for election. In that case, in my opinion, we will put a counter-candidate in the race. Who that will be, I don't know yet.

Infantino has faced international criticism, particularly after a plan to open FIFA to external investors failed. Čeferin revealed he has not spoken with Infantino since the crisis began. He also noted that FIFA appears to be portraying the situation as "arrogant Europe is against us." Čeferin countered this by reminding that Infantino is European and was supported by UEFA.

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I think someone should remind him that he is European and was supported by UEFA.